The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has selected Golden-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide technical assistance in integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) in Colorado, Massachusetts and Virginia. This initiative aims to enhance electric grids to make them safer, more responsive, resilient and affordable.
On Sept. 30, OCED announced it would invest up to $50 million in three energy projects designed to implement distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS). DERMS facilitate the management of increasing electricity demand linked to the rise of electrified buildings, vehicles and industrial processes, alongside the installation of DERs such as solar panels and battery storage.
NREL’s technical assistance includes access to the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) research platform, which validates strategies for securely controlling millions of interconnected devices. The demonstrations will utilize the Advanced Distribution Management Systems Test Bed, allowing utility partners to test how advanced grid controls can enhance their systems.
“ARIES will be used to prove what is possible for widespread integration of DERs, with customized R&D conditions based on the needs and opportunities of the energy system for each project,” said Jennifer Kurtz, director of NREL’s ARIES and the Center for Energy Conversion and Storage Systems.
Sherry Stout, Laboratory program manager for NREL’s State, Local, and Tribal activities, said, “We are excited to support these utilities by providing access to ARIES, the world’s most advanced platform for de-risking strategies to integrate distributed energy resources, as well as our cutting-edge analysis capabilities.”
The selected projects include:
1. GRid Integration and Demonstration of FLEXible Energy Resources (GRID-FLEXER) in Suffolk, Va.: Led by Virginia Electric and Power Co., this initiative plans to demonstrate a DERMS in southeastern Virginia by coordinating existing DERs with control software. The project aims to optimize 150 MW of clean energy resources to provide reliable grid support during peak demand without costly upgrades.
2. Outer Cape Microgrid Optimization (OCMO) from Orleans to Provincetown, Mass.: Led by Eversource Energy, the OCMO project aims to improve energy reliability and resiliency in Cape Cod. The project will implement a DERMS that coordinates customer-owned DERs with an existing 24.9-MW battery energy storage system to enhance regional microgrid capabilities.
3. Prime Time Virtual Power Plant in Boulder: Led by Xcel Energy Services Inc. (Xcel Energy), this project aims to develop a virtual power plant (VPP) that aggregates DERs from participating consumers. This will allow for clean energy delivery without the need for new power plants or transmission lines, supporting Boulder’s goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
