This series of three reports examines major elements of the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into power systems. These resources—generation, storage, electric vehicles, and responsive load connected to the distribution system—can provide a range of benefits for electricity systems and customers. Unlocking these benefits, however, requires concerted and coordinated action among electricity regulators, electric distribution companies, bulk power system operators, retailers and other service providers, customers, and equipment manufacturers.

The first report, DER Integration into Wholesale Markets and Operations, examines the changes in regulation, market rules, planning, and operating practices needed to better integrate distributed energy resources into U.S. wholesale markets and operations. The report covers the nearer-term implementation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 2222, the order’s implications for electricity distribution systems, and higher-level needs for DER integration in wholesale markets and distribution systems. It discusses structural participation models for DER integration into wholesale markets, including roles for DER aggregations; outlines gaps that need to be addressed; and presents next steps for utilities, regulators, and independent system operators.

The second report, Lessons Learned for the U.S. Context: An Assessment of UK and Australian Open Networks Initiatives, provides an assessment of recent DER integration initiatives in the UK and Australia, distilling insights that would be instructive for the development of a national initiative around DER integration in the United States.

The third report, The Transition to a High-DER Electricity System: Creating a National Initiative on DER Integration for the United States, proposes a U.S. national initiative around DER integration that would create common concepts and vocabulary, more standardized solutions to nearer-term DER integration challenges, and more alignment across the industry on how to resolve longer-term challenges addressing a range of planning, operations, interconnection, and regulatory issues. It describes three tracks that a U.S. national initiative could pursue: technical foundations, least-regrets strategies, and dialogue on longer-term issues.