Distributed Energy Resources (DER) could play an important role in decarbonizing the grid. If we doubled, tripled, or even put 10X the number of solar PV systems, batteries, and bi-directional EV chargers on the grid and were able to tap them for the energy they create (PV) and store (batteries and EVs), we could go a long way toward a grid powered by more clean energy.
That’s the takeaway from the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG), which on September 7, released two new reports on the integration of DER into the electricity system.
DER can provide a wide range of benefits to the U.S. electricity system and its customers. They can increase the flexibility of the demand side (an important element of a system with rising levels of variable renewable generation); help to lower emissions; increase consumer choice, competition, and rapid innovation; and enhance the reliability and resilience of the grid. However, realizing these benefits will require integrating DER into electricity system planning processes, markets, and regulatory processes.
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UK and Australia
One report, Lessons Learned for the U.S. Context: An Assessment of UK and Australian Open Networks Initiatives, assesses DER integration initiatives in Australia and the UK. The report details two international initiatives, the UK Open Networks Project and the Australian OpEN Project and offers insights that would be instructive for the development of a national initiative around DER integration in the United States, according to ESIG. Takeaways from the UK initiative include eight key functions of a distribution system operator (DSO) and a roadmap for the evolution from traditional network operation to new DSO functions.
Australia’s OpEN project was created as a result of Australia’s already DER-heavy distribution system. The three-year program identified least-regrets actions that distribution network service providers need to implement: to define network visibility requirements and constraints for DERs exporting power to the distribution system, create industry guidelines for DER operating envelopes for export limits, and develop communication requirements for dynamic DER operation.
“The UK and Australian initiatives demonstrate that multi-stakeholder conversations are very important for addressing near-term, least-regrets strategies while developing a vision of long-term challenges,” said Priya Sreedharan of GridLab and the task force chair. “A national-level DER integration initiative in the United States can learn from their experiences, developing consensus strategies that can be adapted to local conditions and tackling a range of technical challenges from operations to planning, interconnection, and data access.”
A transition plan for the USThe second report, The Transition to a High-DER Electricity System: Creating a National Initiative on DER Integration for the United States, proposes a comprehensive, national initiative to develop greater consistency and consensus around DER integration in the United States.
The report suggests that to create an initiative around DER integration, the US needs first a set of common concepts and vocabulary, then more standardized solutions to nearer-term DER integration challenges in order to support FERC Order 2222 implementation, and finally, more alignment across the industry on how to resolve longer-term challenges.
The goals of a U.S. national initiative on DER integration could include:
- creating consistency in terminology, concepts, and vision around distribution planning and operations, DER interconnection, data access and communication, utility regulation and tariffs, and markets;
- defining nearer-term, least-regrets strategies for expanding functionality and operational capabilities on the distribution system; and
- advancing structured dialogue on longer-term issues.
The two new ESIG reports make up the second and third reports in the series on DER integration, building on the first report, DER Integration into Wholesale Markets and Operations.
“DER have tremendous potential to help decarbonize the grid,” said Debra Lew, associate director of ESIG. “But unleashing that potential will be difficult if every jurisdiction has to reinvent the wheel in terms of coordinating planning and operations and establishing frameworks and practices.”
