Case Study: Portland General Electric advances smart grid reliability with Eaton energy storage solutions

Eaton helps Portland General Electric make tomorrow’s smart grid a reality

Portland General Electric (PGE), Oregon's largest utility, partnered with Eaton to address the challenge of modernizing the electrical grid. As part of a major regional smart grid project, PGE needed to develop a first-of-its-kind, 5-megawatt energy storage facility. The challenge was to effectively store renewable energy for use during peak demand, integrate it with other power sources, and create a reliable micro-grid that could operate independently from the main utility supply if needed.

Eaton provided the power systems engineering expertise and customized solutions required for the project. The vendor modified its Power Xpert inverters to operate bi-directionally and developed a sophisticated control system to manage the entire energy storage operation. The result was the successful launch of the Salem Smart Power Center, which created a high-reliability zone capable of powering commercial and residential customers. This demonstration site serves as a replicable model for integrating renewable energy, improving grid reliability, and providing backup power during outages.

Portland General Electric

Joey Ross

Manager of Innovative Solutions