California is on a cutting edge quest to find ways to accurately value decentralized energy, as evidenced last month in its microgrid tariff decision, and this week as it takes up a proposal on using distributed energy as non-wires alternatives. The California Public Utilities Commission is slated Thursday to consider two pilot programs that … [Read more...]
California Regulators to Tackle Payment for DERs Acting as Non-Wires Alternatives
February 9, 2021 By 2 Comments
Built With Frugal Innovation, Solar Microgrids Improve Medical Care in the Himalayas
February 5, 2021 By Leave a Comment
In remote villages in the Himalayas, medical centers often lack critical medical equipment, refrigerators for vaccines and dependable electricity for light and other essentials. But Paras Loomba intends to change that, bringing solar microgrids to medical centers, which will allow for vaccine storage, baby warmers, ventilators and other items that … [Read more...]
Wisconsin Utility Proposes Microgrid Resiliency Program with up to 22 Projects
December 14, 2020 By 6 Comments
In response to customer demand for increased resiliency, Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin utility is proposing a microgrid pilot program that could include 22 projects. Northern States Power’s Resiliency Service Pilot would be capped at 30 MW, with a third of the capacity dedicated to governmental and nonprofit entities, according to a Dec. 9 filing … [Read more...]
97% Renewable Microgrid to Replace Fire-Vulnerable Line in California During Wildfire Season
September 28, 2020 By 1 Comment
A 97% renewable microgrid will allow Liberty Utilities to de-energize four miles of transmission line located in a remote Sierra Nevada location during wildfire season in California. The microgrid, from BoxPower and owned by Liberty Utilities, a regulated utility with about 50,000 customers on the West side of Lake Tahoe, is made up of 20 kW … [Read more...]
Distributed Energy Scores Big Win in US Wholesale Markets with FERC Order 2222
September 18, 2020 By 8 Comments
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday issued Order 2222, its much anticipated ruling that paves the way for aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs) to compete alongside traditional power plants and other grid resources in wholesale markets. The landmark ruling was heralded in a commission news release as … [Read more...]
Pepco Considers Non-Wires Alternatives, Issues RFI
August 17, 2020 By 6 Comments
Pepco is seeking information on possible non-wires alternatives, such as distributed energy resources, to meet a looming constraint on its distribution system in Washington, DC. The request for information (RFI) grew out of the PowerPath DC grid modernization effort launched by the district’s utility commission in January. PowerPath DC … [Read more...]
Connecticut to Look at Resilience, Renewables & NWAs in Grid Modernization Proceeding
July 14, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Connecticut has launched three new proceedings to explore grid modernization policies that are likely to be of interest to the microgrid community. Underway before the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the three policy tracks will look at reliability and system resilience metrics and targets, non-wires alternatives, and the … [Read more...]
Homes Gain Momentum as ‘Grid Flexibililty’ Resources
June 18, 2020 By 2 Comments
Call them nanogrids, smart homes, or something else, households are increasingly shaping up as a means to leverage grid flexibility, and energy companies are stepping forward with a range of products to advance the market. Circuit breakers, energy control platforms, batteries, aggregations, virtual power plants, non-wires alternatives and … [Read more...]
New York Grid Operator Prepares for DERs & Storage as Part of Sweeping Change
June 11, 2020 By 2 Comments
The New York Independent System Operator’s (NYISO) top priority is preparing for sweeping changes to the state’s grid, including a sharp increase in distributed energy resources (DERs) and energy storage, according to the grid operator. “New York State policies set forth the most aggressive clean energy mandates in America,” NYISO CEO … [Read more...]
California to Include Avoided Transmission Costs in DER Benefits Calculation
April 24, 2020 By 3 Comments
The California Public Utilities Commission has agreed to consider avoided transmission costs for the state’s three investor-owned utilities as part of its cost-benefit analysis for distributed energy resources (DERs). The issue centers on the PUC’s “avoided cost calculator,” or ACC, a methodology used to determine the benefits of DERs that … [Read more...]
