Electrification of gas distribution can have significant impacts on the electric distribution system. A comprehensive electrification plan should assess both cost and reliability impacts across both commodities to inform a reliable, affordable plan.
System Electrification
Assess the impacts of electrification across electric and gas systems - all in a single software
The Challenge
Integrate Electrification Planning with SAInt
SAInt unifies gas and electric planning to convert gas demand into electric load, run reliability and cost studies, and sequence upgrades for reliable, affordable electrification.
Step 1: Model the Gas Distribution System
Run gas hydraulic simulations to evaluate pressure/flow and prioritize electrification candidates, including low operating pressures, aging cast-iron mains, high maintenance costs, piping constraints, etc.
Image: A hydraulic a simulation of the gas distribution system is configured and simulated.
Step 2: Use the Gas Model to Inform the Electric Distribution Model
Overlay electric and gas systems to easily convert electrification candidate gas demands to equivalent electric loads considering a variety of equipment characterizations (i.e., coefficient of performance).
Image: SAInt allows quick viewing of gas and electric transmission and distribution systems.
Step 3: Simulate Electrification Strategies
Easily execute the asset electrification process with unbalanced power-flow studies that quantify impacts and pinpoint when and where voltage/thermal violations occur on all system assets (e.g., service transformers, reclosers, regulators, etc.).
Image: SAInt allows the seamless movement of gas energy demands to equivalent electric demands, parameterized based on type of equipment.
Step 4: Compare Costs and Benefits Across Electrification Strategies
Quantify the avoided and needed capacity upgrades and operational costs across electrification strategies.
Image: A single view containing results of a gas and electric simulation reveal that this electrification strategy causes loading imbalance on the electric distribution feeder.
The Value of Electrification Planning with SAInt
Reliable, Affordable Electrification
Consolidate gas and electric distribution data and simulations into SAInt’s single integrated model to eliminate handoffs, improve data integrity, and speed executive decisions.
Prioritize No-Regrets Electrification Opportunities
Identify and assess where electrification makes the most sense today.
Unified Data, Single Source of Truth
Import, visualize, and benchmark gas and electric networks in one SAInt model so assumptions align, handoffs disappear, and decisions rest on trusted data.
See what SAInt can do
Schedule a demo to learn how to streamline electrification planning into one seamless, efficient SAInt workflow.
See More
See electrification strategies from National Grid's 2023 Distributed System Implementation Plan
“Integrated planning across the electric and gas networks and the T&D systems will be critical to effective and accurate business planning that ensures reliability, resiliency, and affordability during this transformation. National Grid’s procurement of licenses and training for encoord’s Scenario Analysis Interface for Energy Systems (“SAInt”) software tool enables gas and electric network planning engineers to engage in combined modelling of the electric and gas networks and coordinated controls between them.”
Read the report
Watch a webinar from encoord and NREL focusing on the risks of gas insecurity
The U.S. power sector’s reliance on natural gas pipelines, alongside growing wind and solar adoption, has heightened the need for coordinated planning between gas and electric networks to prevent costly and dangerous outages. In this webinar, encoord and NREL experts share study results using SAInt to show how optimizing both systems can help mitigate gas insecurity during extreme weather events.
▶