Disruption on Wall Street
Financial executives contemplate the rise of distributed resources.
In a January 2013 report, EEI said fast-growing distributed energy could undermine the utility business model. Wall Street is paying attention.
Distributed Generation & Microgrids
Valuing Distributed Storage
A complex business case calls for sophisticated modeling.
Flexible energy storage systems are costly, but a unique set of benefits makes them attractive. Realistic valuation supports a storage business case.
Low Tech Resilience
Portable small-scale generators could keep vital services on line during a major power outage.
High-voltage generation reserves cost more than would portable, small-scale units to keep critical services on line during a major power outage.
Making Friends with Solar DG
Better to compete from within than fight from afar.
Utilities should embrace distributed solar generation, offering O&M, aggregation, or marketing services, rather than lament a lost business model.
Final Report for Assessment of Visibility and Control Options for Distributed Energy Resources
KEMA, Inc., (supported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Energy Exemplar LLC (owners of PLEXOS production cost software); hereinafter referred to as the “KEMA Team”) provide this report to evaluate the market and operational impacts, and quantify the benefits and cost associated with gaining visibility and control of projected Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in California.
Cycle of Innovation
IEEE revisits interconnection standards for DG, microgrids, and smart grid.
IEEE considers new standards for grid interconnection of distributed generation, even as market innovation alters the playing field.
Threat From Behind the Meter
The case for utilities to compete directly with distributed resources.
Behind-the-meter energy threatens the utility business model. Does history offer a lesson for crafting a response?
Reverse Robin Hood
Declaring war on non-utility PV.
Recently I’ve been hearing some utility executives use a new catchphrase: “reverse Robin Hood.” The phrase is shorthand for policies on net metering and green incentives that support rooftop photovoltaics (PV) at the expense of low-income customers. We’re “robbing the poor” to pay for rich people’s fancy solar systems.
Economy of Small
How DG and microgrids change the game for utilities.
Energy microgrids have emerged as more than just a curiosity. The technology is improving, costs are falling, and developers are lining up to build projects. How will microgrids overcome the substantial challenges that stand in their way?
Old School Microgrid
Resilience depends more on determination than technology.
A brutal storm ripped through southwestern Minnesota in April and snapped 2,000 power poles. Worthington Public Utilities kept the lights on with a seat-of-the-pants microgrid.