New Technology - End-Use

Tri-State continues to invest in research that ultimately benefits end-use consumers and ensures the wise use of energy. Its goal is to help address challenges in electricity, which include reliability, efficiency, health and safety.

Core Research

• Emerging Energy Efficient Technologies - Tri-State continues to assist research, monitor, and evaluate evolving electric technologies that hold the promise of saving energy for Tri-State member systems and their customers.  Of particular interest are technologies that promise a carbon reduction when compared to other electric technologies and other fuels. As these technologies mature, Tri-State will assist in developing the market through incentives and other promotions.

 

• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles - There is great interest in shifting the transportation system from gasoline and diesel fuel to renewable energy via the electric grid.  Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will eventually become widely adopted and co-ops need to learn as much as possible about the challenges and opportunities as more customers buy and start plugging them in.

 

• In-Home Energy Consumption Displays - These displays provide real-time feedback to home occupants on whole-house electricity consumption. These devices involve three basic components: a sensor that collects energy use data from the meter, a display and a means to communicate between the two. After collecting the demand data from the meter, the devices can display both instantaneous power usage and cumulative energy use over selected periods of time. The device can also provide projected energy use and cost estimates.

 

• Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency - Given the cost of renewable resources, such as photovoltaics, it is typically wise to minimize use through energy efficiency and conservation before looking at renewables. Through its member electric cooperatives Tri-State offers incentives for customers to purchase certain energy efficient appliances, lighting and home heating and cooling systems.

Demonstration Projects

• Smart Grid - The concept of a smart grid holds the promise of greater reliability through outage prevention and sensing, demand response support, and two way real-time or near real-time communication with customers regarding their power use and distributed generation. This technology is still expensive and rapidly evolving. A major challenge is the higher cost for telecommunications in rural areas. Tri-State is monitoring the research being done and intends to support a small scale pilot of its own.

 

• Low-Temperature Heat Pump - Heat pumps move BTUs from one place to another. A normal Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) will provide 1 BTU from the air for each 1 BTU purchased in the form of electricity at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The Low Temp Heat Pump (LTHP) has the ability to move 3 BTUs from temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit air to heat air or hot water for each 1 BTU purchased in the form of electricity. Tri-State and its member co-ops are sponsoring the installation of LTHPs with extra instrumentation to verify that the units, in fact, perform as advertised.

 

• Heat Pump Water Heating - Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. A stand-alone air source heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and dumps it (at a higher temperature) into a tank to heat water. Stand-alone heat pump water heating systems can be installed as an integrated unit with a built-in water storage tank and back-up resistance heating elements.

 

• LED Lighting - Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) produce light in a very efficient, non-toxic and recyclable form. LEDs convert 85 percent of their energy to light compared to incandescent light bulbs, which convert only 10 percent of their energy to light. LEDs also last longer with life spans between 50,000 to 200,000 hours of use. Tri-State and its member co-ops are testing currently available LEDs to determine their unique characteristics and how to utilize this new technology.