The Latest Evolution of Distributed Energy Resources — Opportunity for Business Within PJM

Distributed energy resources have evolved. No longer merely rooftop solar panels or backup generators, they are imbued with software intelligence and new capabilities. These advanced technologies create opportunities for businesses to:

• Leverage electricity markets with demand response, price management, and the sale of energy to the grid
• Gain greater control over energy costs
• Assure electric supply even when storms or other events cause power outages

Moreover, the increasing deployment of distributed energy resources are causing shifts in the century-old electric grid and a rethinking of business models. How did we get here? What has this journey taught us? And what can businesses do to maximize the benefits of these new technologies, especially during grid-stressing periods, such as extremely hot or cold weather?

This paper focuses on opportunities available to businesses and institutions within the PJM Interconnection, one of the world’s largest organized wholesale markets, serving 65 million people in a broad swath of the United States.