New technology puts the power to create the electricity in your—and your utility’s —hands. In the past, power flowed from a power plant to your utility to your light switches and appliances. Now, distributed energy resources let you work with your utility to tailor power generation to meet your needs.
Distributed energy resources, also known as DERs, include solar, wind and battery storage systems.
Utilities are committed to fortifying grid resilience while exploring innovative solutions to support thriving communities. Integrating DERs into grid operations empowers electric utilities to optimize system reliability and affordability.
Battery Energy Storage
Solar panels are springing up all around us. For some, panels on the roofs of households or businesses help offset electricity used during the day. Some electric utilities, such as Benton REA in Southern Washington, Lane Electric Cooperative in Oregon and Northern Lights Inc. in Northern Idaho, support larger community solar projects that serve as local power sources.
As these utility-scale projects grow, utilities can pair them with battery storage. During times when solar panels produce more electricity than the grid demands, the excess energy can be stored in batteries. Later, when solar generation is low but demand is high, that stored energy can be released to maintain a steady power supply.
Many of us turn on lights when it is dark and solar panels aren’t generating electricity. Battery storage saves surplus power generated when the sun is out for later, keeping power availability aligned with demand.
Virtual Power Plants
Virtual power plants, or VPPs, aggregate the total production from many small-scale DER assets, such as residential solar panels or battery systems, and treat them like a single power plant.
All the power sources in a VPP are connected and coordinated through computer platforms, allowing them to function together.
Using a VPP lets utilities determine the most cost-effective electricity generators at any time, creating a more cost-effective energy supply.
Programs to Manage DERs
When multiple distributed resources are operating together—but not necessarily as part of a VPP—something still needs to oversee them. This is where DER management systems come in.
These programs help electric utilities balance supply and demand. They coordinate the output of DERs in real time while forecasting energy needs and preventing congestion or voltage issues.
These systems help utilities efficiently manage the operations of distributed energy resources based on grid conditions, while VPPs help determine which resources are the most cost-effective to deploy during a given period.
Strategies for Managing DERs
Many electric utilities already use strategies to integrate and manage DERs.
One approach involves installing smart inverters, that can stabilize stressed portions of the grid. Unlike traditional inverters, which shut down during voltage anomalies, smart inverters stay online and adjust their output dynamically to stabilize the grid.
As the energy industry evolves, electric utilities will continue innovating and optimizing DERs for a more resilient, stable grid. Proactive planning and collaboration among utilities and key stakeholders are essential in creating a more reliable, resilient grid.