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Rethinking California distribution system operations and grid services markets for a high-DER future

Rethinking California distribution system operations and grid services markets for a high-DER future To prepare California for a “high DER future” that could overstress the state’s distribution system, a series of regulatory workshops opened May 3. Distribution system reform is needed as California moves from “firm dispatchable one-way generation to variable two-way generation” that will … Continue reading Rethinking California distribution system operations and grid services markets for a high-DER future

#NAESB Role in DERs and DER Aggregation: What Do FERC and the States Think?

NAESB Role in DERs and DER Aggregation: What Do FERC and the States Think? In May 2022, with some, but relatively little, acknowledgment in the trade press, the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), at the behest of the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), announced … Continue reading #NAESB Role in DERs and DER Aggregation: What Do FERC and the States Think?

DER and microgrid companies poised to help as summer heat threatens the US grid

DER and microgrid companies poised to help as summer heat threatens the US grid With grid operators signaling that that the summer could bring power shortfalls, companies that pool together resources such as residential and commercial solar, storage and microgrids are poised to jump in and provide grid flexibility in an effort to keep the … Continue reading DER and microgrid companies poised to help as summer heat threatens the US grid

DER Aggregations in #RTO / #ISO Markets: An Update on FERC Order No. 2222 Compliance and Implementation

DER Aggregations in RTO/ISO Markets: An Update on FERC Order No. 2222 Compliance and Implementation In September of 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) issued Order No. 2222,[1] requiring Regional Transmission Organizations (“RTOs”) and Independent System Operators (“ISOs”) to adopt rules allowing aggregations of distributed energy resources (“DERs”) to participate in the … Continue reading DER Aggregations in #RTO / #ISO Markets: An Update on FERC Order No. 2222 Compliance and Implementation

Distributed energy is poised to take center stage in 2022, but policymakers and regulators must step up

Distributed energy is poised to take center stage in 2022, but policymakers and regulators must step up The share of grid resources that will be centralized versus distributed represents a key uncertainty of the energy transition. The cost of utility-scale solar per Wattdc will be 33% the cost of rooftop solar in 2026, making a … Continue reading Distributed energy is poised to take center stage in 2022, but policymakers and regulators must step up

Five Considerations for Designing DERs with Increased Energy Autonomy

Five Considerations for Designing DERs with Increased Energy Autonomy istributed energy resources (DERs) are significantly changing the way energy is produced, stored and distributed. Ideally, they are mobile and rapidly deployable to deliver power and essential resources when and where needed, especially after extreme weather events or emergencies. These DERs create energy autonomy by providing … Continue reading Five Considerations for Designing DERs with Increased Energy Autonomy

Is Tesla Becoming A Threat To The World’s Biggest Utilities?

Is Tesla Becoming A Threat To The World’s Biggest Utilities? Tesla is at the forefront of this trend. It sells not only solar panels, but also battery storage systems for residential (Powerwall), commercial (Powerpack) and utility-scale (Megapack) applications. Another piece of the puzzle is Autobidder, a software product that provides “a real-time trading and control … Continue reading Is Tesla Becoming A Threat To The World’s Biggest Utilities?

Demand Response Provider Asks Feds to Open States to Energy Market Competition

Demand Response Provider Asks Feds to Open States to Energy Market Competition Over the past half-decade, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has consistently won court battles upholding its authority over states to set the rules for how distributed energy resources can play in wholesale energy markets. Now FERC is being asked to put that authority … Continue reading Demand Response Provider Asks Feds to Open States to Energy Market Competition

#Utility sector wary of new #security rules for distributed resources

Utility sector wary of new security rules for distributed resources “I’m not surprised industry vendors are suggesting there should be a lower threshold,” said Mike Almeyda, account manager with risk management firm Force 5. At the same time, he said, “it’s not that industry doesn’t want to do the work.” CIP standards are evolving and … Continue reading #Utility sector wary of new #security rules for distributed resources

What’s Driving Distributed Generation Adoption?

What’s Driving Distributed Generation Adoption? For a majority of the United States’ electricity and grid network’s 100 plus year history, utilities have largely been unchallenged monopolies because of high barriers to market entry, among other reasons. Traditionally, electricity generation in the United States has relied on large, centralized assets, such as coal-fired power plants, to … Continue reading What’s Driving Distributed Generation Adoption?