Dive Summary:
- The Electric Power Research Institute released a report, Integrating Smart Distributed Energy Resources with Distribution Management, contending the most consequential and imminent change to the smart grid is the increasing emergence of distributed energy.
- The report underlines the challenges and potential solutions of integrating distributed energy resources with distribution management systems, including advanced distribution methods for solar generation.
- The report found industry-wide integration standards are needed while the "grid supportive capabilities of distributed energy resources must complement, not replace, existing distribution controls".
From the article:
"... At a recent conference, COO Mike Niggli said that SDG&E had 20 power generators a decade ago. Today it has 2,000 and many of them are outside the utility's direct control.
Yes, SDG&E is a pioneer and probably has more PV and more EVs and more microgrids in its territory than anybody else. But a similar future is headed towards all utilities. The forms of the DER may be different -- storage, wind, demand response, microturbines, fuel cells -- but the challenges will be the same. ..."