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Emerging Issues and Challenges in Integrating Solar with the Distribution System
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As part of the U.S. SunShot Initiative—aiming to make PV electricity cost-competitive with conventional generation by 2020—this report analyzes the impact of high-penetration variable generation on the distribution grid, it demonstrates that in most cases DG can be safely integrated at much higher levels than interconnection standards allow. By streamlining interconnection processes, deploying advanced inverter functionalities, and coordinating DGPV, upwards of 350 GW can be hosted on the U.S. grid with little additional hardware. The report also outlines challenges to interconnection such as voltage regulation, power flow, and protection issues. It then studies the role of storage and complementary technologies to overcome reliability constraints. This research is applicable outside of the U.S. in demonstrating how to maximize an existing grid for DG.
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Topics & Resources
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Grid Planning, Integration, & Operations
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Grid Planning, Integration, & Operations folder
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Distributed Solar PV for Electricity System Resiliency: Policy and Regulatory Considerations
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DPV can be designed to supply electricity during grid outages. This paper presents approaches that specifically support resiliency through design of PV systems utilizing community energy storage, solar-diesel hybrid systems, and micro-grids. The paper also considers policies and regulations to support resiliency.
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Topics & Resources
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Grid Planning, Integration, & Operations
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Grid Planning, Integration, & Operations folder
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Teaching the “Duck” to Fly, Second Edition
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High penetration of DPV often leads to the infamous “duck curve,” the formation of two daily peaks in the morning and evening when PV is not available. This easy to read report assesses a variety of options to mitigate the “duck curve” from targeted efficiency, time of use rate design, storage, demand response, balancing, and complementing DPV with peak-oriented renewables. Implantation of these recommendations flattens the demand curve, allowing for additional DPV.
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Grid Planning, Integration, & Operations
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Grid Planning, Integration, & Operations folder
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An Overview of Behind-The-Meter Solar-Plus-Storage Regulatory Design - Approaches and Case Studies to Inform International Applications
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How should regulators, utilities, and policymakers manage the range of challenges and opportunities that increased behind-the-meter energy storage deployment will bring to the power system, in particular when these systems are paired with DPV?
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News and Events
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USAID Energy Storage Decision Guide for Policymakers
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This report is intended to give decision makers an initial layer of information needed to make informed policy, regulatory, and investment decisions regarding grid-connected energy storage.
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News and Events
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Flexibility Options in Electricity Systems
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This filmed presentation summarizes a 2014 report from Ecofys. The first half of the video discusses the grid operation challenges that arise with high penetrations of variable RE. The second half of the video describes the various technical, regulatory, and market options for improving flexibility of the grid over the short-, medium-, and long-term. The Ecofys report includes factsheets on the following topics: Active Power Control (pg. 19), Demand Management in Industrial Installations and in Services and Households (pgs. 21-22), Electric Vehicles (pg. 23), Compressed Air Storage (pg. 27), Fly Wheels (pg. 28), and Batteries (pg. 29).
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Ancillary Services
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Ancillary Services folder
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Energy Storage Requirements for Achieving 50% Solar Photovoltaic Energy Penetration in California
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This report estimates the storage required to enable PV penetration up to 50% in California (with renewable penetration over 66%), and quantifies the complex relationships among storage, PV penetration, grid flexibility, and PV costs due to increased curtailment. The authors find that storage needs depend strongly on the amount of other flexibility resources deployed. With very low-cost PV (three cents per kilowatt-hour) and a highly flexible electric power system, about 19 gigawatts of energy storage could enable 50% PV penetration with a marginal net PV levelized cost of energy (LCOE) comparable to the variable costs of future combined-cycle gas generators under carbon constraints.
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Demand Response and Storage
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Demand Response and Storage Folder
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2013 Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering: Staff Report
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This is the 8th annual report from the United States Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on demand response and advanced metering in the United States, based on publicly available information and interviews with market participants and industry partners. The assessment reviews penetration rates of advanced metering and communications technologies; existing demand response and time-based rate programs; annual resource contributions from demand resources; the potential for demand response as a quantifiable, reliable resource for regional planning; steps that have been taken in regional transmission planning and operations to ensure demand resources are provided equitable treatment as a quantifiable, reliable resource; and regulatory barriers to improved customer participation in demand response programs.
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Topics & Resources
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Demand Response and Storage
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Demand Response and Storage Folder
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Market and Policy Barriers to Energy Storage Deployment
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This report details the barriers that restrict the deployment of energy storage technologies in the United States. The findings are based on interviews with stakeholders and review of regulatory filings in four regions roughly representative of the country. The report suggests that while high capital costs remain a barrier to energy storage, deployment is also impacted by regulatory, market (economic), utility and developer business model, cross-cutting, and technology barriers.
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Topics & Resources
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Demand Response and Storage
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Demand Response and Storage Folder
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Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) SmartRate: Product Design Converges on Customer Experience
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This case study is based on interviews with PG&E (a California utility) and explores the institutional circumstances surrounding the implementation of PG&E’s SmartRate™ dynamic rate program. The case study focuses on implementation and procedural challenges, reactions and perceptions of stakeholders involved, and lessons learned. The case study is not intended to evaluate the program but offers insight into the internal workings, attitudes, and relationships of a utility successfully implementing a demand response program.
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Topics & Resources
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Demand Response and Storage
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Demand Response and Storage Folder
