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)
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:
- DER Integration into Wholesale Markets and Operations Report
- Lessons Learned for the U.S. Context: An Assessment of UK and Australian Open Networks Initiatives Report
- The Transition to a High-DER Electricity System: Creating a National Initiative on DER Integration for the United States Report
Task Force Lead: Priya Sreedharan, GridLab
Grid Planning for Vehicle Electrification
This task force 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.
Task Force Lead: Carl Linvill, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)