Distributed Energy: Page 2


  • Hitachi battery energy storage
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    Permission granted by BGE
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    Sponsored by Hitachi Energy

    Helping 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
  • One of the buildings of the Soleil Lofts apartment complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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    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
  • Rural lane meanders among modern windmill technology and steel electrical pylons. Laramie, Wyoming, 2009 Explore the Trendline
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    Chuck Schug Photography via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

    The U.S. energy transition is facing challenges around grid interconnections, project permitting and power system reliability, but state, federal and other solutions are emerging.

    By Utility Dive staff
  • A solar crew installs panels on the roof of a house in Washington.
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    RyanJLane via Getty Images
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    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
  • A rooftop solar installation against the backdrop of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan.
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    FernandoAH via Getty Images
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    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
  • Symbols of a customer IT stack
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    Permission granted by Kraken Technologies Ltd
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    Sponsored by Kraken

    To 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
  • Wind turbines operate at a wind farm on March 05, 2024 near Palm Springs, California.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    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
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    Getty Images
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    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
  • AI Artificial Intelligence and conversational chatbots businesses digital technology interact with applications, including customer service, sales and marketing and big data virtual screen.
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    hirun via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    As 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 June 11, 2024
  • Utility Dive interview series
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    Yujin Kim/Utility Dive
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    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
  • Drone shot of a solar farm on the edge of Liberty, a small town in Randolph County, North Carolina.
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    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 May 30, 2024
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station And Home Energy Storage System In Garage
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    onurdongel via Getty Images
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    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
  • A Resideo smart thermostat mounted on a wall of a home.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    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
  • Aerial shot of two people in hard hats walking on a rooftop between solar panels
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    Hiraman via Getty Images
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    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 May 15, 2024
  • A sonnen battery in one of the apartments at the Soleil Lofts complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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    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
  • The BMW Vision Neue Klasse X electric Sport Activity Vehicle.
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    Courtesy of BMW Group AG
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    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
  • One of the buildings of the Soleil Lofts apartment complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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    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
  • Rooftop solar panels at the Soleil Lofts apartment complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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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
  • A rendering of Schneider Electric's battery energy storage system, announced in April 2024 with Graybar as the first channel partner.
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    Courtesy of Schneider Electric
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    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
  • A rooftop solar installation against the backdrop of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan.
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    FernandoAH via Getty Images
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    NYISO launches first-in-nation DER integration program in move toward FERC Order 2222 compliance

    New market rules by the New York Indepdent System Operator require participating distributed energy resources to be at least 10 kW, which critics say will significantly limit DER participation, at least initially.

    By Updated April 19, 2024
  • Four buildings surrounded by dirt and construction.
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    Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group.

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    DOE cites cost, reliability concerns for new gas plants as it details how to meet surging power demand

    Rising electricity demand will require a portfolio of resources, including energy storage, hydropower, nuclear, grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management, DOE said.

    By April 18, 2024
  • Rooftop solar panels at the Soleil Lofts apartment complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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    Deep Dive

    Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say

    Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.

    By April 17, 2024
  • Wind turbines seen behind solar panels at a wind farm.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Virtual power plant adoption could save California ratepayers $550M annually: Brattle report

    The report called for the state to facilitate virtual power plant growth in California, noting that “more can be achieved” to scale VPP adoption by 2035.

    By Brian Martucci • April 15, 2024
  • Aerial shot of solar panels with a single person in a hard hat working on top of panels
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    Eloi_Omella via Getty Images
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    DOE awards $27M for communities to plan a clean-energy future

    This is the first funding round for the Energy Future Grants initiative, which launched last year to help communities plan for transportation and building electrification, microgrids and solar projects.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • April 12, 2024
  • Man installing alternative energy photovoltaic solar panels on roof
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    Elenathewise via Getty Images
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    Green Mountain Power, RMP offer strong virtual power plant blueprint: RMI webinar

    VPP policy should promote widespread distributed energy resource adoption while enabling retail and wholesale market participation and preserving customer choice, webinar participants said.

    By Brian Martucci • April 11, 2024
  • Electric vehicles at an EV charging station.
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    EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
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    Bidirectional EV charging, VPP bill passes Maryland Assembly, heads to governor’s desk

    “Pairing battery storage with renewable generation will help Maryland achieve its clean energy goals, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,” Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo said.

    By Brian Martucci • April 8, 2024