In recent years, a few utilities have begun testing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects to determine whether electric vehicles (EVs) or EV fleets can support the grid when it’s stressed — making the vehicles into mobile microgrids. The idea is that EVs can serve as mobile microgrids available to help supply power to the grid or reduce power … [Read more...]
Energy Industry Players Moving out of their Swim Lanes
December 18, 2020 By
New business models — such as utility use of mobile batteries for peak demand — are now emerging, along with new and needed distributed energy resource (DER) integration models, according to two new reports from Deloitte. Markets aren’t providing enough compensation for distributed energy resources (DER) which is blocking their expansion on the … [Read more...]
New York Regulators Approve Demand Response Change to Spur Storage
September 22, 2020 By
The New York Public Service Commission approved demand response program rules aimed at giving energy storage resources long-term contracting opportunities. In its September 17 decision, the commission changed proposed dynamic load management (DLM) implementation plans for New York’s six major electric utilities (CASE 18-E-0130). The plans … [Read more...]
What Isaias Laid Bare about the East Coast’s Progress — or Lack of — on Energy Resilience
August 11, 2020 By
Isaias’ punch to the East Coast last week in many ways resembled that of Superstorm Sandy, the storm that eight years ago launched a drive for microgrids to ward off power outages. So it naturally raises the question, When it comes to electric reliability, how far has the East Coast come since Sandy? By the outage numbers, not far. … [Read more...]
New York Revises Demand Response in Light of Coronavirus Pandemic
June 1, 2020 By
In a big win for the demand response industry and its customers, the New York Public Service Commission (NY-PSC) issued an emergency order calling on the state’s utilities to revise their summer demand response programs in light of the coronavirus pandemic and New York’s stay-at-home orders. Effective May 14, the order compels many of the … [Read more...]
What are Non-Wires Alternatives?
June 21, 2019 By
Non-wires alternatives (NWAs) use distributed energy resources and microgrids to defer or replace the installation of more traditional 'wires and poles' infrastructure. When utilities choose non-wires alternatives, they often save ratepayers money by avoiding investments in costly infrastructure. By utilizing distributed energy resources (DER) at … [Read more...]
Who Pays on a Decentralized Grid? New York Tackles the Equity Problem with New Rates
May 28, 2019 By
The New York Public Service Commission recently revamped utility standby and buyback rates to tackle the vexing problem of ratepayer equity in an age of distributed energy. The changes represent the next iteration in the state’s efforts to encourage wider adoption of clean energy while bringing rates more in line with market forces, all part … [Read more...]
When the Reason for Microgrids Comes in a Flash
February 12, 2019 By
Sometimes the reason for microgrids is so obvious it comes like a big blue flash in the sky. Such was the case in late December when Consolidated Edison’s system malfunctioned causing a gas flare that had some New Yorkers looking to the skies and wondering if space aliens had come to Queens. It took an announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to … [Read more...]
Orange & Rockland Issues RFP for 17-MW Microgrid as a Non-wires Alternative in New York
January 7, 2019 By
New York utility Orange & Rockland has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a microgrid of up to 17 MW to serve as a non-wires alternative to a substation upgrade in Orange County. Proposals are due March 7. The Consolidated Edison subsidiary seeks business partners to offer a microgrid that employs solar panels, fuel cells, … [Read more...]
No Microgrid is an Island? A Look at the Growing Value of Connectedness
December 17, 2018 By
Well, okay, some microgrids are electrical islands, particularly those that are on a literal island or in a desert or on a mountaintop or somewhere no central grid exists. They function in a stand-alone fashion, or in industry parlance islanded. Others operate independently just some of the time, separating from the central grid during a … [Read more...]
