e2Companies Glossary
This comprehensive glossary covers key terminology related to distributed energy resources, grid management solutions, and related services. With accelerated growth in areas like distributed solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, intelligent controls, and advanced analytics, this glossary aims to establish a common language around grid edge technologies, strategies, and applications that are reshaping the energy landscape.
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Grid Response Optimization of Virtual Energy
Active Power
Active power is the real power consumed by electrical equipment to do useful work and is measured in watts or kilowatts. It is the portion of apparent power that actually powers equipment and gets converted to heat, light, motion, or other forms of energy. Proper management of active power is key to operating electrical systems efficiently and economically.
Alternating Current (AC)
The designation given to power that is delivered in the form of a sinusoidal waveform. AC won out over DC as the preferred method of delivering and using power in the industrial age due to the ease of voltage transformation using static devices (transformers).
Ampere (A, amp)
A unit of measurement of electric current. One ampere is equal to the current produced by one volt flowing through a resistance of one ohm.
Ancillary Services
A set of processes that enable the transportation of electricity around the grid while keeping the power system operating in a stable, efficient, and safe way. There are six main services: Frequency Response, Reactive Power, Voltage Management, Inertia, Reserve Power, and Black Start.
Asset Optimization
Maximizing the performance and value of electrical infrastructure, including generation, transmission, and distribution components. Energy management solutions use analytics to create virtual models of assets like transformers, conductors, and circuit breakers to simulate stress factors and predict ideal replacement timing for maximum reliability at lower cost.
Asset Monitoring
Tracking and analyzing grid components like power lines, transformers, and generation equipment to optimize electric system performance. Energy management solutions can monitor grid assets using IoT sensors and metering to monitor performance and identify opportunities to reduce loss rates, minimize downtimes, prescribe timely maintenance, and increase lifespan.
Baseload
The least amount of power that a utility or distribution company is required to generate for its customers.
Channel Partner
One part of a Value Network; A vetted entity that has an official relationship with a company.
Chiller
A unit consisting of a compressor, a condensing section, and an expansion section used to chill water to cool and dehumidify air in a facility.
Demand response allows electricity consumers to help balance grid operations by voluntarily reducing energy use during high-cost peak demand times in exchange for financial incentives, bill credits, or lower rates. The temporary load reductions assist grid stability, ease electricity price pressures, and empower consumer grid participation.
Demand Response Ancillary Services
Flexible demand-side grid resources that help maintain system stability and meet technical needs like frequency regulation or spinning reserves. Grove's virtual power plant software aggregates and controls numerous distributed energy assets to provide critical ancillary services back to the grid.
Demand Response Services
Programs and solutions enabling utility customers to adjust their electricity usage, usually during peak times, to benefit the grid's reliability and cost profile. Energy management solutions leverage real-time meter data analytics and segment users to identify the highest value periods to run mass customized response initiatives.
Demand Response Service Providers
Companies that design, manage, and deliver solutions enabling utility customers to reduce or shift their electricity usage during peak periods to benefit grid economics and reliability. Grove is an innovative demand response platform and service provider that unlocks flexible demand-side capacity and ancillary services on an unprecedented scale.
Demand Response Utility Services
Programs offered by electric utilities that incentivize customers to reduce or shift electricity usage during periods of peak demand to enhance system reliability and cost outcomes. Utilities that leverage energy management solutions can achieve higher customer participation in demand response initiatives through personalized, segmented outreach calibrated to usage patterns and individual motivations.
Demand-Side Management:
The planning, implementation, and monitoring of utility activities designed to encourage consumers to modify their electricity usage patterns.
Direct Current (DC)
A non-time varying method of delivering power. While slightly more efficient than AC if utilized between the DC portion of the UPS and the power supplies in IT equipment, it has not won wide acceptance in modern data centers.
Energy Choice
The freedom to choose how, when and from where a customer consumes energy, including the ability to choose their electricity provider and service plan in areas with retail competition.
Energy Economics
A branch of applied economics involving a multidisciplinary approach to studying the principles and practices concerning production and consumption, as well as the supply and demand of energy in societies.
Energy Management Services
A form of Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC), allowing the purchase of energy conservation measures, energy efficiency improvements, water conservation measures, and onsite energy generation as an alternative public procurement approach.
Energy Savings
The reduction in electricity use and utility costs achieved by customers. Energy management solutions enable significant new energy savings through the personalized analysis of energy usage at the device level – providing real-time feedback to identify the highest impact areas for each customer and help them reduce their energy footprint.
Environmental Permitting
The process of obtaining regulatory approvals to meet environmental compliance obligations before undertaking facility construction or operations.
Grid Response Optimization of Virtual Energy (Grove):
A specialized team dedicated to developing personalized operational strategies for the R3Di® system, such as devising a customized playbook that outlines the optimal use of power from public utilities, employing historical data, energy market pricing, and other pertinent factors aligned with specific goals.
Independent System Operator (ISO)
An independent organization that handles electric grid operations, market facilitation for certain electric markets, and bulk electric system planning. ISOs were created to facilitate competitive wholesale electric markets.
Load Following
Essential grid operation of ramping supply sources up or down in response to changing load or supply conditions. This can also include the ability of power plants to adjust electricity output to match changes in demand throughout the day, giving them the flexibility to ramp production up or down and allowing the grid to continuously balance supply and demand.
Electrical power used in a space divided by the area of the space or the amount of power that can be produced per unit of volume or mass. Large amounts of power in a small footprint unlocks the full benefits of DERs, allowing more clean energy generation from even the smallest space-constrained rooftops or storage applications.
Prime Power
Onsite generation used 24/7/365 to power a facility.
The portion of electrical power that establishes magnetic fields in AC equipment. It flows back and forth between source and load and does no useful work, but it is essential for AC systems to function properly. Reactive power needs to be locally generated and managed to improve efficiency and reduce losses.
The duplication of critical infrastructure support systems with the intention of backing up the primary systems and protecting against system downtime due to failure.
Reliability
The ability of a power system to withstand instability, uncontrolled events, cascading failures, or unanticipated loss of system components.
Remote Dispatching
The sending of electronic signals to remotely adjust, curtail, or control distributed energy resources like solar inverters, battery storage systems, smart appliances, electric vehicle chargers, and HVAC units. Energy management solutions process weather, load forecasting, renewable generation data, and equipment constraints to identify precise moments when remote adjustment can curtail peak demand, allow for integrated renewables, or provide services back to the grid.
Resiliency
The adaptability of a power system to anticipate, survive, and recover from interruptions in the power grid.
Step Down Transformers
A transformer that reduces voltage - an electrical device by which the alternating current of one voltage is changed to another voltage.
Switchgear
Electrical distribution that breaks out power from high to medium to low voltage.
Transformer
An electromagnetic device used to change the voltage in an alternating current electrical circuit.
Transient Load
A sudden fluctuation in frequency and voltage, generally caused by a large load coming online or going offline.
Value Network
A collection of organizations, individuals, or entities that interact in a symbiotic manner with one another for the benefit of all.
Voltage
The difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit. Voltage (also known as electromotive force [EMF]) is measured in volts and represents the force that pushes electrons through a circuit.
Weather Monitoring
The process of tracking and forecasting weather patterns. Energy management solutions use sophisticated weather monitoring to predict renewable energy generation and grid demand for optimized system balancing.
Energy Management
Asset-Backed Demand Response (ABDR)
Energy as a service where costs are managed in a way that provides customers with long-term energy cost certainty and reliability.
Behind the Meter
Power that is produced and consumed onsite without going through any utility-owned infrastructure. Assets located on the customer's side of the electricity meter.
Electricity Procurement
The sourcing, negotiation, and acquisition of wholesale electric power to serve retail customers or end-user demand. Energy management solutions allow for data science, predictive modeling, and optimization to develop electricity procurement strategies with the best risk-return profile based on load shapes, risk appetite, budget constraints, and sustainability goals. Energy Management.
Energy Bill Management
Energy bill management encapsulates solutions enabling organizations to control, reduce, and optimize their electricity, natural gas, and other energy expenditures across building portfolios.
The strategic improvement of efficiency, waste reduction, and total expenditure minimization across customer facilities, equipment, and processes related to electricity, natural gas, and other energy products. Using data science modeling, meter analytics, tariff engineering, and optimization algorithms, energy management solutions holistically reduce client energy costs across entire building portfolios, campuses, and global operations.
Energy Equity
The fair distribution of the benefits of energy production and consumption across society, regardless of demographics, psychographics, location, and socio-economic class.
Energy Equity is broken down into sub-categories:
- Affordability - ensuring energy is affordable to all customers and consumers.
- Renewable Energy - Making renewable energy available and accessible to everyone.
- Decarbonization - ensuring all buildings, industries, and facilities are decarbonized equitably.
- Economy - Building and inclusive and resilient economy (GDP) for sustainable growth.
Energy management consulting is a specialized form of management consulting services focused on helping clients reduce energy usage, optimize electricity and natural gas procurement, and implement projects that improve building and system performance.
Centralized services providing power and gas agreement structuring, asset optimization, proactive and real-time monitoring, utility bill management, and auditing.
An energy management system (EMS) is the combination of hardware (e.g., energy meters, submeters, sensors) and software that collects energy data, analyzes historical data and real time monitoring streams, and turns those insights into informed decisions—and, in more advanced deployments, automated actions that optimize energy.
Energy Market Analysis
The ongoing investigation of fundamental electricity and natural gas market supply, demand, and risk factors to determine optimal transaction timing and pricing conditions for energy customers. Energy management solutions can monitor and overlay real-time market price signals with machine learning price forecasting, geopolitical and regulatory change tracking, carbon modeling, and detailed demand analytics to spot shifts that alter risk-return profiles.
Energy procurement strategy refers to the methodical planning and structured execution of electricity and natural gas purchasing decisions to achieve optimal risk-adjusted costs. Energy management solutions historical usage assessment, quantifying sustainability targets, modeling growth trajectories, and the evaluation of risk appetites to custom-design an ideal mix of fixed-price contracts, hedging vehicles, demand response programs, and other instruments.
Energy Risk Management
Practices and strategies for managing exposure to uncertain and volatile commodity market prices across electricity, natural gas, and other energy products to help corporations and institutions cost-effectively mitigate energy market risk.
Energy Service Agreement (ESA)
A contractual arrangement between an energy service provider and a client wherein the provider offers a spectrum of energy-related services. These services can encompass energy supply, efficiency upgrades, and (potentially) access to renewable energy. The customer pays a fee or rate for any services rendered.
Energy storage technology refers to systems that store energy produced at one time for use at another, allowing electricity generation and consumption to be decoupled. These systems store energy in various forms, including chemical, mechanical, thermal, or electrical, and release it when needed to support the electric power supply, manage peak demand, or provide emergency backup power.
Global Adjustment
The charge assessed to all Ontario energy users that is effectively their capacity charge.
Industrial energy management encompasses all the processes, technologies and practices used to monitor, control and reduce industrial energy consumption. It focuses on energy efficiency, energy performance and operational efficiency across manufacturing lines, HVAC systems, motors and other equipment.
Kilowatt (kW)
The standard unit of power consumption measured at a given moment.
Kilowatt Hour (kWh)
The standard unit of power consumption measured per hour.
Managed Energy Service Agreement (MESA)
Also known as an Energy Management Service Agreement (EMSA), this is a more comprehensive contract between an energy service provider and a client that extends beyond basic services provided in an ESA, such as the ongoing management, monitoring, and optimization of energy systems, which involves real-time adjustments, data analysis, and advanced technology or software for efficient energy use.
Natural Gas Procurement
The purchasing of wholesale natural gas commodity supply, transportation capacity, and storage services to meet retail customer or end-user demand. Leveraging statistical modeling, machine learning price forecasting, and optimization algorithms, energy management solutions enable tailored procurement strategies that minimize budget uncertainty over long durations.
Power and Gas Sourcing
The acquisition of wholesale electricity and natural gas supplies to meet facility and operational needs. Energy management solutions enable mapping load shapes, analyzing onsite generation assets, creating detailed demand forecasts incorporating growth plans, and evaluating budget risks to engineer the ideal utility supply portfolio.
A long-term contract between an independent power producer and a corporate or utility customer for the sale of electricity generated by a renewable asset at a negotiated rate.
Renewable Energy Procurement
The sourcing and purchasing of electricity generated by renewable energy assets to power buildings and operations. Leveraging proprietary analytics, energy management solutions enable the ability to assess client energy spend, quantify sustainability goals, and model regulatory scenarios to create customized procurement strategies aligned with business objectives.
For commercial and industrial facilities, dependable solar power means more than just sunshine. It encompasses module durability, system design, energy storage and seamless integration with the electric grid.
Solar Power Purchase Agreement
An arrangement where a developer sets up a solar system on a customer's property without incurring significant upfront cost. The developer sells the generated power to the customer at a fixed rate, usually lower than the local retail rate, to offset the customer's energy costs and reduce the customer's reliance on the grid while the developer benefits from electricity sales and incentives associated with the solar system.
Utility Bill Auditing
The detailed review of electricity, natural gas, or other utility bills, rates, tariffs, and meter data to identify potential errors, overcharges, or savings opportunities.
Utility Bill Management Software
Technology solutions enabling businesses to consolidate, analyze, audit, process, and optimize their electricity, natural gas, and other utility expenses across facilities and meters.
Utility Cost Management
Utility cost management refers to the strategies, solutions, and ongoing process optimizations focused on minimizing total expenses related to electricity, natural gas, water, and other utility services.
A financial deal enabling companies to contract for renewable energy without taking physical delivery. Also termed Contract for Differences (CFD), these dealings provide corporations a financial hedge for energy cost volatility while funding new offsite alternative and renewable energy projects.
Virtual Utility
Backup Power Generation
A secondary electricity supply from distributed generators (electric power generation sources that are decentralized and located close to the load they serve) that activate upon loss or inadequacy of the prime generation supply. While diesel and natural gas generators have been the traditional go-to technology for backup power, innovators now have more options, including batteries, renewables, fuel cells, microturbines, and more.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
A modular, scalable battery system designed to store large amounts of electrical energy generated from renewable sources like solar and wind to help balance electricity supply and demand, enabling grid stabilization and greater renewable energy integration.
Battery Management System (BMS)
Electronic control circuits used in energy systems to monitor, control, and optimize the charging and discharging of batteries. The BMS is responsible for monitoring various battery attributes such as battery type, voltage, temperature, capacity, state of charge, power usage, remaining operational time, charging cycles, and other characteristics.
A modular, scalable battery system designed for commercial sites that can store and discharge electricity on demand, helping businesses optimize energy use and reduce demand charges.
Compliance Audits
Assessments carried out to ensure that organizations adhere to industry laws, regulations, standards, and internal policies. These audits aim to verify whether the entity complies with environmental standards, safety protocols, operational guidelines, and legal requirements specific to the energy sector.
Continuous Power Generation
Electricity produced from the power grid around the clock without disruptions. Advanced controls and a mix of generation sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar plants maintain grid reliability so that electricity is always available.
Distributed Energy Resource (DER)
A distributed energy resource is a small power generation or storage facility located close to the load it serves, like rooftop solar panels or battery storage systems.
Software platforms that utilities use to monitor, control, and optimize distributed energy resources (DERs) like rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles, etc., on their distribution grids. DERMS helps to integrate and manage DERs at scale.
Distributed Generation (DG)
Decentralized energy production from sources like solar panels or wind turbines located closer to end users than centralized power plants.
The process of switching over from old power sources like gas or oil to generate electricity. It involves changing equipment, appliances, and systems to run on electric power instead of other fuels. Electrification allows homes, businesses, and transport to use clean, efficient electricity for lighting, heating, and power.
A grid-connected system that stores electrical energy via batteries or other media to supply power on demand at a later time to homes, buildings, and electricity grids.
An electromechanical machine that converts rotational mechanical energy derived from turbines, engines, or renewable sources into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction.
Generator Power System
A standalone or backup system comprising a rotating electrical generator driven by an internal combustion engine or renewable source that generates electrical energy to power isolated loads or circuits.
Grid Stability
The ability of an electrical grid system to maintain steady voltage and frequency to withstand small disturbances and avoid major blackouts through sufficient generation capacity, load balancing, and grid controls.
Lithium-Iron Phosphate (LiFePO 4)
A type of lithium-ion battery chemistry commonly used in energy storage systems due to its superior chemical and thermal stability, increased power output, rapid charging, lifespan, and eco-friendliness (Gartner).
Long-Duration Power
The capability within a system to store large amounts of affordable energy to supply electricity for extended periods when renewable sources are unavailable, bridging gaps from 10 hours to up to 100 hours.
A localized grouping of integrated electricity sources, including renewable generators, battery storage systems, and loads having automatic control capability, that can be isolated from the main utility grid to maintain power to connect customers.
Natural Gas Generation
Electricity generation that combusts natural gas in a gas turbine/generator or steam boiler driving a steam turbine generator.
Natural Gas Turbine
A rotating engine fueled by natural gas driving an electrical generator to produce utility-scale electric power.
Onsite Power
Electricity generated or stored at the same location where it will be used. Onsite power allows businesses to make and use their own energy rather than buying that energy through the grid. Common technologies include solar panels, batteries, fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, and combined heat and power plants.
Power Generation System
A broad term referring to the whole facility and infrastructure that generates electricity to feed into the grid or distribution system. Power generation systems are complex and can include multiple components, such as electrical generators, turbines, transformers, and auxiliary equipment that convert mechanical or chemical energy into bulk electrical energy that is fed into transmission grids or distribution systems.
Power System Automation
Computerized control systems that monitor and regulate grid components and operations – enabling intelligent, real-time control and optimization of generation, transmission, distribution, and electricity use.
Power System Generator
Individual generator units within a power station designed to use electromagnetic induction to convert mechanical rotation from electrical rotating machines into electrical power. Multiple power system generators together make up a power generation system.
The main or predominant system providing reliable electrical energy to meet grid demand baseload (the minimum constant level of electricity that must be supplied to the grid over a period of time to meet the continuous demand from customers).
R3Di® System
A self-contained unit consisting of a prime-rated, rich-burn natural gas generator and an energy storage system which provides up to 1 MW of power, or enough power for about 100 households. Its double conversion inverter system provides continuous power conditioning and uninterruptible power transfer, while its lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry offers higher energy density.
Resilience and Reliability
The ability to adapt to and recover from disruptions or challenges and maintain consistent or dependable performance over time.
Solar Energy Storage System
A system used in conjunction with an ESS or BESS to store excess solar power generated during the day and provide electricity at nighttime or for periods when solar panels are not generating. This consists of a combination of solar panels, batteries, an inverter, and a control system to capture excess solar generation, charge batteries, and save electricity for later use.
An electrical power system that provides a continuous supply of electricity, even when the primary source of power is lost. It typically involves renewable energy sources combined with battery storage and power converters to offer a seamless transition to backup supply in case of grid outages.
Utility-Grade Power
Electricity that achieves the reliability and quality expected of utilities, generated onsite through integrated distributed energy resources that provide resilient, grid-compatible power matching centralized infrastructure standards via advanced controls and optimizations.
Groups of Distributed Energy Resources that can balance electrical loads and provide utility-scale and grade services. This can also refer to a cloud-based system that remotely pools together many small energy-producing or storage devices, such as solar panels, to serve the electricity grid and optimize and balance electricity supply and demand.
Grid Response Optimization of Virtual Energy
Capacity Reserve
A backup energy generating capacity used to meet unexpected demand and prevent system failure. It acts as a safety margin, allowing energy providers to maintain reliable service during contingencies like equipment outages or forecast errors.
Conditioned Power
The product of controlling voltage, frequency, amperage (current), etc., to provide the stable characteristics different applications need to operate.
Frequency Regulation
Using distributed generation to balance the frequency of electricity flowing through the grid. If there is a frequency dip, DERs will increase the amount of current they are providing to the grid. The opposite occurs if there is a spike in frequency.
Transient Response
How a circuit or power system responds to a sudden change in voltage or current before reaching steady-state operation again. The transient response provides insights into the stability and performance characteristics of the system.
Virtual Utility
An onsite system or network that combines uninterruptible power generation with energy storage and grid optimization services to help facilities proactively manage energy consumption in sync with the power grid or independent from it.
Carbon Emissions Monitoring
A system used to monitor, measure, and record the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses emitted by various sources, such as transportation, energy production, or buildings. These trackers are designed to help individuals, organizations, and governments track their carbon footprint and understand their contribution to climate change.
Energy Sustainability Consulting
The act of advising businesses, organizations, and governments on strategies and practices to achieve sustainable and efficient energy usage. Consultants offer expertise in reducing energy consumption, optimizing renewable energy adoption, and implementing environmentally friendly practices to enhance overall energy sustainability.
Environmental Compliance Services
Advisory and technical assistance provided by subject matter experts to help companies across industrial sectors manage their environmental performance obligations. This can encompass permitting coordination, compliance audits, monitoring system design, inspection field services, regulatory reporting, emission inventories, and overall compliance management planning.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
A discipline focused on safeguarding human health and the environment in various settings, including workplaces, communities, and natural surroundings. It encompasses practices, policies, regulations, and protocols designed to identify, assess, prevent, and mitigate hazards that may impact the health of individuals or the environment.
Environmental Impact Assessment
A systematic process used to evaluate the potential environmental consequences or impacts of proposed projects, policies, programs, or activities and to determine ways to mitigate these impacts.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
A structured framework or systematic approach implemented by organizations to effectively manage their environmental impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and continuously improve their environmental performance. The EMS provides a set of processes and practices that help organizations identify, monitor, control, and reduce the environmental impact of their operations, products, or services.
Environmental Management System (EMS) Audits
A systematic, documented verification process used to objectively evaluate whether an organization's environmental policies, practices, and management procedures conform to the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 14001 standards.
ESG Benchmarking
The process of evaluating and comparing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance metrics and practices of companies or organizations against predefined standards, peers, or industry benchmarks.
ESG Risk Management
Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors that can impact a company's operations, reputation, and long-term sustainability.
ESG Integration
The act of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into various aspects of an organization's operations, decision-making processes, and strategies.
ESG Roadmap
A strategic plan or framework that outlines the steps an organization intends to take to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into its business operations, decision-making processes, and overall strategy.
Indemnification Services
In energy projects, indemnification involves one party taking on liability risks that might otherwise fall to a counterparty through contractual agreements.
Performance Audit
An independent and systematic examination of the activities, operations, programs, or functions of an organization, typically conducted by a government agency, an internal audit team, or an external auditing firm.
Permitting Applications
Detailed documents comprising regulatory submissions to governmental bodies for review and approval before undertaking infrastructure projects or operational changes.
Regulatory Compliance
The process by which products and services conform to laws, regulations, and standards enacted by government authorities – spanning areas like data privacy, security protocols, device safety specifications, and grid interconnect rules when implementing behind-the-meter solar, batteries, and electric vehicle charging.
Regulatory Conformity
The act of ensuring that business operations, products, services, and management systems adhere to governmental laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards enacted to protect public interests like health, safety, finance, or the environment.
Social Return on Investment (SROI)
A method of accounting for the social, economic, and environmental value created by a company.
Tracking Carbon Emissions
The act of monitoring, measuring, and recording the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere as a result of various human activities. This process is crucial for understanding and managing the environmental impact of energy production.
Virtual Utility
Energy Infrastructure
Tangible poles, transmission lines, transformers, and generators. Anything involved in the process of generating, distributing, and transmitting power.
Energy Management
Overseeing an entity's utility costs by monitoring and examining bills thoroughly, rectifying any errors, and ensuring timely payments. Analyzing consumption and cost data is crucial, as it uncovers opportunities for efficiency, leading to reduced energy and water usage, ultimately saving the company money.
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