In the quest to develop viable solutions for energy storage, community energy storage combined with smart grid presents the greatest potential for integrating renewable energy resources, distributed generation, and demand response. Compared to larger batteries located in substations, community energy storage devices offer several advantages and can potentially overcome the top three barriers to storage [...]

There is now an influx of variables weighing on the grid, as deployment of renewable energy technologies escalate, renewable portfolio standards grow, and electric vehicle demand increases. Today the electric system still operates in just-in-time delivery mode. Energy storage is a key component to reinvent our electric system infrastructure.

The Virtual Power Plant is the working title assigned to the modern electric system architecture and operations envisioned by utility industry leaders. The VPP integrates the operation of supply- and demand-side assets to meet customer demand for energy services in both the short- and long-term. It’s the evolution of the present-day power plant, so it [...]

A new report expands understanding of load balancing requirements for building a sustainable energy future, modeling the effect of high-penetrations renewables on intra-hour system operations of the California Independent System Operator (the ISO) control area in California. The findings are part of KEMA’s report, “Research Evaluation of Wind Generation, Solar Generation, and Storage Impact on [...]

Becoming sustainable requires taking a long-term strategic view of the electric generation portfolio. It taks rethinking three aspects of generation: fuel sourcing, conversion technology and grid coupling. It also requires a forward-looking, sustainable business roadmap to manage the risks of diverse fuels with policy and technology.