Welcome from the Energy Program Office
Journal of Energy Management Highlights
By addressing a wide variety of topic areas each quarter, we’ll be able more quickly to deliver ideation that will make our industry better. Please enjoy the review of the journal highlights and consider submitting an idea for a future release to : journals@scte.org.
SCTE launched its very first Journal of Energy Management setting the bar high for timely and thought-provoking information and idea sharing. Each year SCTE looks to publish two journals focused on energy efficiency and new thoughts to powering our networks.
The October 2016 edition of the Journal focuses on cost saving opportunities and various energy saving methodologies, including:
- financial considerations and risks of off-site alternative energy procurement strategies
- assessment of changing utility rate structures which could provide financial opportunities for cable operators
- decoding the IEEE 1366 standard that impacts cable’s utility partners
- measuring HVAC, lighting, energy generation and storage at the critical facility level
- the impact of batteries on the Internet of Things (IoT)
- HFC capacity planning and the impact of evolving architectures on cable plant power
- deep dive into energy demands of network routers
- examination of energy storage with up and coming battery technologies.
We hope that the selected papers spark innovative ideas to further our collaboration to mature the industry’s operational practices, standards and technology solutions.
From Giving HFC a Green Thumb by John Ulm
This April 2017 edition of the Journal focuses on cost saving opportunities for critical facilities by way of a benchmarking tool analysis and the second paper examines climate management approaches and use of fiber to impact positive energy change in critical facilities. Finally, a utility sector, multi-year strategic plan report (as it pertains to road mapping and availability of commercial power) has been included.
From Improving the Efficiency of Cooling in the Headend by Jim Farmer and David Kozischek
In this August issue, fleet, energy procurement, increasing critical facility resiliency through renewable energy microgrids, and consideration of managing energy in the age of Internet of Things (IoT) are presented.
From Increasing Resiliency Through Renewable Energy Microgrids by Kate Anderson
In this December 2017 issue, we continue the discussion on how to strategically approach procurement of energy, help address the security of energy as well as affordability. We examine how to approach adopting the operational practices and standards that the Energy Management Subcommittee has published to date. Next, a keen look at how electric vehicles could play a role in rapidly reducing emissions and costs for the cable industry is presented. Finally, a thought provoking letter to the editor outlines the concept and role of computational fluid dynamics in critical facilities.
From Computational Fluid Dynamics Air Flow Modeling – Can it improve cooling in your facilities? By EMS Climate Technology Optimization Working Group
The opening issue of the 2018 Journal of Energy Management has three articles for your review. First is the concept of an infrastructure headway energy opportunity which looks at ways to address the prep and preservation of the critical space headroom. Next, research findings are presented that illustrate various causes of critical facility outages, especially slack of power. We conclude with a follow-up study about using computational fluid dynamics modeling to assess cooling in the critical facility.
From The Tech Refresh and the Nega-Watt: Common Sense Powering at Comcast by Ben Strunk
Within this first 2019 Journal of Energy Management we evaluate some strategies and technologies including Grid over the Internet of Things (GoIoT) demonstrating two distinct use cases for cable’s participation in GoIoT. Next, research regarding the reduction of RF signal loading of a cable network in times of low traffic is presented. Another Outside Plant (OSP) energy cost reduction strategy includes utilizing assets such as battery storage that traditionally were only used for back-up power purposes when the utility grid failed. And finally, we cover how to right size HVAC units by utilizing standards and various ratios to evaluate both heat load and comfort.
From Grid Over The Internet Of Things™ by Robert Cruickshank III, PhD
In this September 2019 important issue of the SCTE Journal of Energy Management our authors evaluate the strategy of microgrids for cable, managing incorporation of renewable power with little to no capital expense, advantages of phase change materials to combat cooling costs, access network advanced design using artificial intelligence, and airflow management to optimize cooling needs.
Impact of Cable’s 10G Program on Energy Considered for Future Program Focus Journal V4 N2 2019 feature. By Rajesh Abbi and Sudheer Dharanikota
From Enhancing the Customer Experience Utilizing Modular and Scalable Power Delivery Systems by SCTE Microgrid Working Group
Our March 2020 issue presents four articles. The first is centered on powering 10G asking how we will ensure that bandwidth expansion and next generation architecture does not stress power availability and reliability. Next, a primer and cost analysis on what flywheel technology can do for alternate approaches to traditional battery energy storage. The third paper will address the 30% of critical facility power load: airflow and cooling optimization. The last paper is intended for the cable industry energy procurement professionals. This paper analyzes the impacts loads have on the utility grid and how to target optimal rates.
From Flywheel Energy Storage Replacement For Lead - Acid Batteries in CATV Network Stand - by William Bauer
Three articles are available in our September 2020 edition. The first examines precision air vs. comfort cooling as it relates to critical facilities. Next, we present a method for approaching how cable operators can move forward with fleet electrification. The third paper examines a total cost of ownership (TCO) framework for determining the best method for delivering the 10G networks. Finally, in a letter to the editors, the importance of managing company diesel fuel supply chain as it relates to our targeted maximum availability of service is discussed.
From Drive to Sustainability: Electric Fleets Contribution Toward Zero-Emission Goals and Operational Savings by Paul Stith
SCTE Standards Journal consolidates into one package with multiple topics including Energy Management.
Network Power Considerations for 10G Enhancements
Rob Anderson of EnerSys discusses assuring the availability of additional, reliable, and intelligent power for the near future 10G-capable access network is both essential and challenging since network architectures are evolving and 10G enabling technologies are still being developed [1]. In this paper we review two specific access network upgrades through the lens of network power. First, distributed access architecture (DAA) optical nodes (ONs) bring higher bandwidth closer to consumers. Remote PHY (R-PHY) nodes are one example of a DAA implementation [2]. R-PHY nodes bring new powering challenges to the access network including the need for high quality, resilient power. Second, recent operator investments in CBRS RF spectrum are good indicators that access network powered small cell radio area networks (RANs) will soon be scaling up. New radio installations come with new power level and voltage reach challenges for the access network.
Achieve Power Savings in a DOCSIS 4.0 network with a Distributed Gain Architecture
Jan Ariesen of Technetix discusses one of the main elements of the new DOCSIS 4.0 specification: the ability to expand network capacity to 1.8 GHz, and nearly double the capacity of many current HFC networks. What remains a subject of debate is the best way to meet the specification and how much will it cost? The primary options include extended spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) and full duplex DOCSIS (FDX). Which one do you choose; which is the most futureproof, flexible, and reliable option that will give you more capacity in your network? How much will the chosen solution cost in labor/truck rolls for re-spacing amplifiers, and most importantly - how much power will it use?
Optimization of Electric Load Shaping, Sensing, and Forecasting A Guide to Operational Savings and New Business Models
Dr Robert Cruickshank III of GRIDIoT® and other co-authors discusses building more power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure hasn’t resulted in a more resilient grid or more reliable power—but it has raised the cost of electricity. To reliably support broadband operations and enable new business models, what's needed are new solutions that monitor the grid and enable the demand for electricity to be shifted in time to follow the cleanest and lowest-cost supply. Time-shifting creates economic value by discouraging consumption at certain times and encouraging consumption at other times, thereby creating virtual power plants that optimize and extend the life of existing grid assets. Furthermore, time-shifting reverses the supply-follows-demand relationship by allowing flexible demand, such as battery storage, to anticipate and follow supply. The goal of this work is to empower the broadband industry with software-centric technologies that increase network reliability and reduce the cost of broadband operations while spearheading profitable business models that scale quickly to modernize the global electric utility ecosystem while reducing harmful heat and carbon emissions.