Distributed Energy
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Virtual power plants ‘well past pilot scale,’ but policy and tech challenges remain: WoodMac
Less than 20% of total DER capacity is VPP-enrolled, with residential thermostat and commercial and industrial demand response dominating, Wood Mackenzie found.
By Brian Martucci • Aug. 22, 2024 -
FernandoAH via Getty Images
Deep DiveCalifornia pioneers new ways to ease interconnection of large DERs
Limited generation profiles in California will schedule limits to DERs during system constraints. New York, Illinois, Colorado and others are testing more flexible approaches.
By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Trendline
Utility Business Model Reform
Utilities and regulators around the country are exploring new business models, from updated rate structures to performance-based regulation, to meet evolving policy and business priorities.
By Utility Dive staff -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
OpinionWhy wait? VPPs can help PJM now
Even though PJM’s capacity prices hit record highs for 2025-26, they could go even higher or remain elevated unless the grid operator’s generation capacity can catch up with its surging demand.
By Michael D. Smith • Aug. 14, 2024 -
Kyoshino via Getty Images
Budderfly acquires tech for distributed energy resource management
The company says Sunverge Energy’s system allows it to create virtual power plants that can help improve customer site resiliency and add load flexibility to the grid.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 14, 2024 -
deepblue4you via iStock by Getty images
Sponsored by Questline DigitalUtilities finding new ways to educate customers about natural gas
As the energy landscape continues to evolve, utilities must effectively communicate the benefits of natural gas to residential and commercial customers.
Aug. 12, 2024 -
Courtesy of Sunrun
Sunrun storage attachment rate jumps to 54% as CEO cheers rising VPP potential
The company also announced a partnership with Tesla Electric to support the Texas grid during peak demand periods.
By Brian Martucci • Aug. 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
Limited accountability, technology hurdles inhibit VPP adoption: Uplight panel
Despite significant technical and program design challenges, virtual power plants can significantly reduce future generation and transmission investments, participants said.
By Brian Martucci • July 30, 2024 -
Permission granted by BGE
Sponsored by Hitachi EnergyHelping keep the heat on in rural Maryland
Case study: BGE advanced clean energy goals and met state requirements with battery energy storage.
July 29, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
US VPPs can meet summer demand peaks faster, cheaper than new generation and transmission: RMI
The more than 500 VPPs operational in the United States can help address summer peaks in 2024, while new VPPs can be online in time for summer 2025, RMI said.
By Brian Martucci • July 10, 2024 -
RyanJLane via Getty Images
Berkeley Lab releases interactive decision framework for integrated distribution grid planning
The tool helps stakeholders navigate increasingly complex grid investment considerations as more states require utilities to file distribution plans, the lab said.
By Brian Martucci • July 8, 2024 -
FernandoAH via Getty Images
US to add 217 GW of distributed energy resource capacity through 2028, Wood Mackenzie projects
EV charging, solar and fuel-based generation will be the largest sources of added distributed capacity, according to WoodMac’s 2024 U.S. distributed energy resource outlook.
By Brian Martucci • July 3, 2024 -
Permission granted by Kraken Technologies Ltd
Sponsored by KrakenTo efficiently electrify everything, utilities will need a better customer IT stack
While utilities need to invest in new technologies, they should consider reinvigoration of an underappreciated tool that they already have: the customer IT stack.
By Emma Rodvien — Senior Manager of US Regulatory Affairs and Market Development, Kraken • June 24, 2024 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Successful VPP programs have long-term outlook, multiple energy technologies: RMI flipbook
The interactive resource draws lessons from 15 U.S. virtual power plant programs with nearly 4 million customers and 1.5 GW of enrolled capacity.
By Brian Martucci • Updated June 20, 2024 -
Getty Images
Residential DERs could compensate for rise in peak energy demand by 2035: Deloitte
Most utilities, however, will need to increase coordination with residential customers to maximize the potential of distributed energy resources, according to Deloitte.
By Emma Penrod • June 12, 2024 -
hirun via Getty Images
Deep DiveAs NVIDIA, IBM and others apply AI to boost utilities, regulatory and data privacy obstacles abound
The “move fast and break things” business model of the technology sector is meeting the regulated spending and reliability imperatives of the utility sector.
By Herman K. Trabish • June 11, 2024 -
Yujin Kim/Utility Dive
Q&A‘Any utility today can have a VPP program’: Sunrun virtual power plant head
Chris Rauscher discusses best practices for VPP design, the grid value of demand response and why targeting early adopters could lead distributed energy providers astray.
By Brian Martucci • June 5, 2024 -
halbergman via Getty Images
Duke to offer expanded suite of clean energy options to Amazon, Google, other large customers
The proposed framework — developed in collaboration with Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor — includes “innovative financing” to support emerging technologies like advanced nuclear and long-duration storage in the Carolinas.
By Ethan Howland • May 30, 2024 -
onurdongel via Getty Images
Colorado law requires Xcel VPP program by February with performance-based tariff
The law also requires the company to proactively invest in distribution upgrades to reduce interconnection delays for distributed energy resources.
By Brian Martucci • May 29, 2024 -
Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
Voltus, Resideo expand residential virtual power plant to 11M ComEd, PSEG-LI customers
The smart thermostat demand response program will help manage loads in the PJM Interconnection and NYISO regions during grid emergencies, company representatives said.
By Brian Martucci • May 16, 2024 -
Hiraman via Getty Images
AEP in $315M deal to sell distributed resource business to Basalt Infrastructure funds
While AEP has been moving to sell its unregulated assets, it has decided to retain its AEP Energy competitive power and gas subsidiary, finding it may be able to serve load growth in deregulated states.
By Ethan Howland • May 15, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
Virtual power plants, DERs and home electrification get boost from trio of new Maryland laws
The laws could help Maryland meet its goals to generate 14.5% of electricity from solar by 2028, achieve a 60% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 and install 3 GW of energy storage by 2033.
By Brian Martucci • May 13, 2024 -
Courtesy of BMW Group AG
BMW’s future EVs will support bidirectional charging
BMW joins General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen in the development of vehicle-to-home charging technology to help homeowners reduce energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions from power generation.
By Eric Walz • May 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
Opinion
If you want ‘virtual power plants,’ first define them
Persistent confusion around VPPs may impede successful policymaking, challenging regulatory commissions, stalling deployments and delaying important benefits to our electricity system.
By Ted Ko • May 7, 2024 -
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VPPs could boost utilities’ credit profiles, but it’s ‘premature’ to consider impact: Morningstar DBRS
Though obstacles are impeding virtual power plants in the short term, the technology will be a plus for utilities and for reliability in the long run, the credit rating company predicts.
By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2024 -
Courtesy of Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric’s new battery energy storage system aims to boost microgrid efficiency
The system allows energy to be stored during off-peak hours, when electricity rates are lower, and used during peak demand periods, a company executive says.
By Nish Amarnath • May 6, 2024
