Richard Mcindoe’s Post

Here’s a terrific summary of key points from Nick Laws, PhD & team’s paper on valuing DERs for non-wires alternatives. Thanks to our friends at Edge Zero for the recap! Take a spin through (it’s a bit shorter than the full paper 😉)

This post came into my feed via Richard Mcindoe Chairman of Edge Zero - his comment is below the line … My (Consumers’ Grid) perspective on NWA - Non-Wires Alternatives - is a little different than from the “energy business” perspective of trying to “tap into” (syphon off) grid (capex) expenditure. Proposing businesses getting paid to ^*temporarily*^ mitigate a constraint presents a challenging question - if it’s simply deferring the inevitable infrastructure upgrade, would it be better to “just bite the bullet”. Rather than businesses trying to profit; what if all consumers (not just in the small area of higher constraints) were focused on achieving maximum utilisation and productivity of the network in their interest? Using DOE - Dynamic Operating Envelopes - to push capacity utilisation to maximum without going OTT (over the top)‼️ Using those DOEs to access spare capacity when energy prices are low - and avoid use when high - ie achieve Energy Cost Efficiency though demand side flexibility ⁉️ Maintaining the outdated “supply side only control” construct is actually “energy system cost inflationary”‼️ Incumbents are maintaining an inefficient business/consumer model but it’s only a matter of time before digitalisation of the network platform results in a whole new business model where the ICT businesses are exclusively focused on the consumer value equation - and they have no interest in participating in energy… in fact they will actively avoid it. The very interesting “thing” is that DNSPs also - by regulatory frameworks - also have no participation or interest in the “energy value” - none whatsoever ‼️ The opportunity for consumers to transact at wholesale pricing (esp in an Energy Only Market like Australia’s NEM) is a real opportunity for ICT businesses and an enormous risk for traditional energy businesses. Who will win⁉️ Ultimately it will be the Consumer…. Digitisation is like bushfire … starts from a tiny spark and can consume all in front of it! It’s the “Consumers’ Grid”. James Seymour Gavin Dufty Liam Mallamo Peter Kilby Alan Luc Simon English Alex Zeller David Norman Nicholas Regan Ed Chan Craig Chambers Mitchell Grande /——————/ “Follow the Edge Zero North American team which is implementing grid monitoring programs that help set Dynamic Operating Envelopes. DOEs enable more effective management of Distributed Energy Resources (DERMs) and VPPs within the physical constraints of the grid. #DistributedEnergyResources #DynamicOperatingEnvelopes #DERMS #VPPs #zerodoubts

In June, our team came across a data-rich paper titled "Valuing distributed energy resources for non-wires alternatives" in Electric Power Systems Research. The paper, by Nick Laws, PhD, Michael E. Webber, and Maggie Chen, spoke directly to the reduction in operating costs and value generation caused by strategic engagement of distributed energy resources (DER) to avoid traditional grid infrastructure upgrades. Our team spent the past seven weeks highlighting key takeaways from the report and sharing how real-time low voltage (LV) network monitoring could further enhance the value DER bring to non-wires alternatives projects. Read our full collection of takeaways here. #DistributedEnergyResources #GridReiliability #GridTransformation #NonWiresAlternatives #ZeroDoubts

I will not be shy about how important it is to understand the complexities of the distribution system, and the innovation it will take to continue providing safe and reliable power. There are some seriously impressive solutions out there... but many cost 10s of millions to deploy, with years (not months) as a deployment schedule. That's great for long term benefits when you have the time to work through rate cases, resourcing, and the 100 other details it takes within the utility. But what about now? How do we find meaningful value through projects we can deploy in WEEKS with budgets that don't take pages of GRC testimony? Insert Edge Zero - we're dedicated to being part of the solution, both NOW and in the future. LV monitoring can optimize the way we deploy and leverage DERs, while remaining VERY practical from the cost perspective. Proud to be supporting this team, this technology, and the value we're bringing to the US utility market. #ZeroDoubts #DERs #GridReliability Creative Intelligence Group

'Valuing distributed energy resources for non-wires alternatives,' which was published in the September 2024 issue of the #ElectricPowerSystemsResearch journal, creates a framework for optimizing the siting of distributed energy resources (DER) to provide alternatives to traditional distribution network infrastructure upgrades. The framework enables system planners to determine the optimal locations and capacities of DER. Real-time distribution transformer monitoring can support these determinations, maximizing DER efficiencies and supporting better investment decisions. Reach out to learn more and read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/dVAGzu4V #ZeroDoubts #GridTransformation #GridReliability

It's all about situational awareness. Do you know what's really going on with your distribution system....especially the last mile? Having this insight leads to better investment decisions among other values. This post is timely as I feel this could be a focal point for my friends on the #ADER Task Force here in ERCOT. If the TDSPs (Oncor Electric Delivery, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas, and Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP)), as well as other market participants (Municipal utilities and Cooperatives) had real time visibility into the loading of their transformers, and the customers each one serves, it could be beneficial to both customer and utility. Should an aggregation of resources be dispatch if it would harm the distribution system at that local point? Something to think about! Follow Edge Zero for more content! #ZeroDoubts

Follow Edge Zero on Linked In for more articles and thought pieces on the importance of the low voltage distribution grid in thr successful energy transition

We're closing out our series on 'Valuing distributed energy resources for non-wires alternatives' with a finding on the importance of policy and marketing considerations when leveraging #distributedenergyresources (DER). Valuations of these assets must encourage the adoption of DER and the use of distributed load, storage and generation to help orchestrate an increasingly decentralized grid. Next week, we'll post a comprehensive slideshow of our takeaways from this informative body of research and emphasize the value that real-time, low-voltage network monitoring brings to the #nonwiresalternatives market landscape. Reach out to learn more and read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/dVAGzu4V #ZeroDoubts #GridTransformation #GridReliability

Part 5 of 7 in our LinkedIn series on findings from "Valuing distributed energy resources for non-wires alternatives" emphasizes the role that #distributedenergyresources (DER) play in reducing distribution network strain when effectively orchestrated. Using low-voltage (LV) network data, Edge helps customers understand how DER interconnections influence power quality in real time, enabling them to make the most of distributed generation and storage solutions. Reach out to learn more and read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/dVAGzu4V #ZeroDoubts #GridTransformation #GridReliability

For those that of you headed to Edison Electric Institute’s #EEI2024, stop by The Hub and chat with us about this and more. For those that can’t make it out, give us a follow and learn how our solution is solving today’s grid problems! #ZeroDoubts #grisresiliency #gridreliability #smartgrid