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EPRI Study on the Integrated Electric Grid at Darnell’s Energy Summit

June 19, 2014 by Jeff Shepard

The Electric Power Research Institute has launched a study on the transformation of the electric power grid. The rapid rise of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) – such as rooftop solar panels and high tech microgrids – could change the structure of the electric grid. Yet even as these technologies rise rapidly, very few organizations have looked at how these technologies could be integrated into the electric power systems so customers can enjoy the benefit of both the central power system and the distributed technologies in the most cost-effective way. The potential for this "integrated grid" is a transformation in the ways that electric power is supplied and used.

During the Plenary Session at the 2014 Darnell Energy Summit (DES '14), Brian Fortenbery, Program Manager with EPRI will present a paper based on the initial results of this effort. His paper, titled: “The Value of an Integrated Grid -EPRIs Thoughts on How to Realize Maximum Value of all the Interconnected Distributed Energy Resources,” will consider how the power grid may look in the future and how utilities may change their business approach to embrace that future.

"The grid is expected to change in different, perhaps fundamental ways, requiring careful assessment of the costs and opportunities of different technological and policy pathways to fully integrate DER into the electric power system," said Dr. Michael Howard, President and CEO of EPRI when the study was first announced in February of this year. "If we are going to realize the full value of these resources, while at the same time continue to provide affordable and reliable electricity, we need to integrate them into every aspect of grid planning, operations and policy."

"These systems can be complementary and not competitive if we acknowledge that both systems benefit the customers and integrating them will enhance the benefit to all customers, while failure to integrate fully could lead to higher costs and lower reliability."

The initial results, which is the first in a series of integrated grid studies from EPRI, outlines an action plan that needs to be addressed by all stakeholders with examples to support fact-based discussions. The study leverages EPRI research in this area and the lessons learned from the circumstances surrounding Germany's extensive deployment of distributed solar PV and wind that offers important lessons about the technical and economic value of planning for integration of DER.

During DES '14 Plenary session, Fortenbery will describe EPRI’s vision of a critical need for collaborative solutions, including: Updating interconnection rules and communication standards that enable distributed resources to integrate with the grid; Deploying advanced distribution and reliability technologies that provide flexibility and connectivity for distributed resources and system operators; Integrating DER into grid planning and operation; and Informing policy and regulation to enable transformation to the Integrated Grid. When fully integrated with today's system, EPRI anticipates these resources can contribute more effectively to system capacity, flexibility, efficiency and environmental attributes.