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Topics covered by the DER Working Group include distributed PV, energy storage, demand management, electric transportation, distribution system design and operation, microgrids, and transactive energy.  The intersection of the distribution system with heat and fuel applications is an increasingly important area of interest.

Members of the DER Working Group are encouraged to interact with one another via Groups.IO, an online discussion platform and community network. The ESIG Resource Library is also a valuable tool for those seeking information on DER, as well as other topics.

Links to both can be found below:

 

 

 

(Please note: only members of ESIG may participate in the Working/Users Groups. If you are interested in membership, please email us at info@esig.energy)

Grid Planning for Building Electrification 

Similar to the Grid Planning for Vehicle Electrification task force, this task force seeks to evaluate the state of the art practice for electrification impacts from building decarbonization and is possible thanks to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity (OE). It will evaluate novel planning methods and highlight best practices, identify gaps across all facets of planning, and suggest next steps for the industry. Topics of particular interest include the overlap between planning and operations, the technology evolution required both in buildings themselves and in the grid planning toolkits, and commonalities across regional building electrification impacts.

Current work underway includes:

  • Identification of best practices in planning
  • Assessment of the tools and planning methods used to capture building load uncertainty
  • Sequencing of next steps for the industry and research communities for electrification

Task Force Lead: Sean Morash, Telos Energy

Grid Planning for Vehicle Electrification 

This task force, sponsored by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity (OE), seeks to evaluate the state of the art practice for electrification impacts, particularly electric vehicles on grid planning. It will evaluate novel planning methods and identify, develop, and evolve best practices and next steps for planning and operations. Topics of particular interest include dynamic charging behavior, and the impacts of heavy, medium, and light duty vehicles on planning.

Current work underway includes:

  • Identification of best practices in planning across multiple considerations
  • Evolution of tools needed to assess EV impacts, driving/charging behaviors, and charging uncertainty
  • Sequencing of next steps for the industry and research communities for electrification

Task Force Lead: Sean Morash, Telos Energy

Aligning Retail Pricing and Grid Needs

The goal of this task force is to explore how we can align price signals and incentives for customers with grid needs to maintain reliability. Our future grid will need flexibility and retail pricing is a powerful way to get flexibility from demand. The task force will bring together retail pricing experts and grid experts to see what types of solutions make sense in a future that is highly decarbonized, as well as a nearer term transition to that future.

Completed white papers include:

“Aligning Retail Pricing and Grid Needs: Introduction to a White Paper Series” by Debra Lew, Erik Ela and Carl Linvill

“Treating Demand Equivalent to Supply in Wholesale Markets: An Opportunity for Customer, Market, and Social Benefits,” by Richard O’Neill, Debra Lew and Erik Ela

“Leveraging Locational and Temporal Flexibility in Transportation Electrification to Benefit Power Systems,” by Jennifer Chen

“Tapping the Mother Lode: Employing Price-Responsive Demand to Reduce the Investment Challenge,” by Michael Hogan

“Why Is the Smart Grid So Dumb?: Missing Incentives in Regulatory Policy for an Active Demand Side in the Electricity Sector,” by Travis Kavulla

“Rate Design for the Energy Transition: Getting the Most out of Flexible Loads on a Changing Grid,” by Arne Olson and Lindsay Bertrand

“Heat Pump–Friendly Cost-Based Rate Designs,” by Sanem Sergici, Akhilesh Ramakrishnan, Goksin Kavlak, Adam Bigelow, and Megan Diehl

Task Force Lead: Carl Linvill, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)

Recently Completed Work

DER Integration Series

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.

Completed work includes:

Task Force Lead: Priya Sreedharan, GridLab