Case Studies
PILOT ON PAPER: ENERGY INNOVATION THROUGH SIMULATION
TechFlow’s leading-edge simulation approach develops resilient, efficient, and cost-effective energy projects
Fast Facts
- Modeling and simulation has proven to be a safer and cheaper alternative to energy project design than traditional methods of ‘procure, build, and hope, as Modeling and Simulation allows for testing before building, discovers unanticipated weaknesses before implementation, and encourages exploration of ‘what if’ questions more effectively.
- Though it is difficult to quantify the potential savings from avoiding the selection and implementation of a less than optimal design, TechFlow’s revolutionary Pilot on Paper system saves time and money by allowing development of properly sized and functioning energy projects before procurement and construction.
- TechFlow is the only government contractor that uses Pilot on Paper as a core component of energy systems design.
The Problem
Continuing efforts within the U.S. Government and the Department of Defense (DoD) to modernize systems and practices have enshrined energy as an essential element of perpetual innovation. Development of new energy systems and practices traditionally involves both high cost and substantial risk. Many facilities seek to implement renewable energy sources to increase onsite resiliency. For example, one DoD facility sought to build an energy storage system to accommodate load shifting; an expensive but vital undertaking.
The DoD facility wanted to develop a fool-proof energy storage system that was sure to be effective, right-sized and resilient. At the same time, the DoD hoped to manage or even eliminate performance risk well before making a procurement decision. The challenge with complex energy projects is that they require a significant investment of both time and money, and the result is never sure to perform as hoped. Under traditional energy project analysis, procurement, and construction, the end user can never be completely certain that a design or system is the right one until it has been built. This risk causes many organizations to question why energy projects must be such risky and theoretical procurement activities.
The Solution
TechFlow challenged the traditional assumptions and methods for energy project design and developed a new, innovative approach to prove a project will work before it is built. TechFlow calls its revolutionary approach the Pilot on Paper Initiative. Instead of force-fitting a procured project onto an existing energy ecosystem, TechFlow has demonstrated that advanced modeling and simulation, undertaken as a core part of the project planning process, leads to better project definition and design and offers greater certainty of success. TechFlow’s solution transforms business as usual to ensure military bases can stay Always Ahead and develop solutions designed with minimal performance risk and future-forward assurance.
Most procurements try to predict which energy system design is best suited for a facility based on a set of ever-shifting requirements, always hoping the system design is cost-effective, efficient and long-lasting. TechFlow’s Pilot on Paper program combines our strengths in energy engineering, project implementation, and modeling and simulation to develop and implement an approach that digitizes the environment and builds an energy system virtually. Ultimately, the virtual system provides a risk mitigation measure that saves customers time and money by uncovering the “unknown” before purchasing a new, untested option.
TechFlow’s use of modeling and simulation to validate one or many approaches, and integration of new technologies with existing systems, exposes and optimizes the future physical application of technology before procurement. This avoids expensive and time-consuming design changes which often arise when design limitations meet real-life requirements during the implementation process.
Pilot on Paper’s targeted and efficient management of risk associated with complex energy projects is another example of how TechFlow challenges the routine to design for the future.
Impacts
- Pilot on Paper demonstrates financial and physical outcomes, encouraging procurement and optimization of a right-size and right-fit solution before installation.
- TechFlow’s Pilot on Paper modeling and simulated system enables our team to stress test systems virtually to ensure they will perform as intended and generate forecasted results – even when the system is under duress.
- Flexing the model under a variety of scenarios allows TechFlow to pinpoint exactly where a system will perform well, in addition to highlighting areas of concern or further optimization.