Review of Data-Driven Models for Quantifying Load Shed by Non-Residential Buildings in the United States

Shifting and shedding power demand in buildings can be cost-effective techniques for grids to function reliably and for end users to earn compensation. Grid operators reimburse customers in proportion to the quantity of load shed. Simple data-driven methods are used to quantify this shed, which is the difference between a measured load during the event and modeled “baseline” that would have occurred in absence of the event. These methods have evolved over the years and in many cases have been integrated with building physics, to make them a hybrid between physics based and empirical models. However, there is no comprehensive …

Cost and Benefit Analysis of Energy Storage Resource Deployment in Illinois

A capacity shortage occurs when a regional power grid cannot meet peak electricity demand on the hottest summer days or the coldest winter nights. The regional power grids that serve Illinois project capacity shortages to occur in the near term. For Illinois, this outlook indicates a lower level of system reliability and increased costs for Illinois consumers. To mitigate the negative impacts of capacity shortages in Illinois, legislation to support the deployment of energy storage resources in Illinois is under consideration.

The legislation proposes to provide incentives for the installation and operation of energy storage resources. These energy storage resources …

SEPA Resilience Playbook for States and Utilities

SEPA’s Resilience Planning Playbook provides state energy offices and utilities with a starting point to address the role of distribution system resilience in the clean energy transition. This playbook utilizes traditional electric utility best practices (e.g., system reliability and capacity planning) and emerging best practices (e.g., environmental justice, energy equity, and critical infrastructure considerations) to help states and utilities understand the tools needed to ensure resilience in light of changing customer needs and demands. It introduces various tools for improving resilience planning (e.g., grid modernization, grid hardening, and distributed energy resources).

In 2020, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) developed …

Aggregated Distributed Energy Resources in 2024: The Fundamentals

The current and anticipated growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) is changing the energy landscape. Unmanaged, DERs have the potential to disrupt grid operations and require additional infrastructure build out. However, when managed and incentivized appropriately, DERs—especially when aggregated—can provide tremendous value to the grid and reduce unnecessary system costs. State-level policymakers and regulators have the opportunity to establish rules and requirements for aggregated DERs (ADERs) and enable policies and programs to bring these resources online safely and effectively. However, as ADERs continue to evolve, there are a myriad of technical and economic challenges policymakers will have to overcome. Establishing …

Comparing Electric Supply Rates in Massachusetts

This Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) policy brief—prepared on behalf of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance (GECA)—presents a cost comparison of electric supply options offered to residential customers served by investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts. AEC’s analysis finds that residential customers are paying a premium for electric supply provided by Third-Party Competitive Suppliers compared to electricity provided by electric distribution companies and Municipal Aggregation programs. AEC also finds that previous estimates of cost premiums associated with Competitive Suppliers have underestimated the extent to which they raised average residential electric rates by not considering the cost savings associated with Municipal Aggregation programs, which …

Beyond Connections: Energy Access Diagnostic Report Based on the Multi-Tier Framework

The survey shows that nationwide 21.1% of Sierra Leone households have access to electricity via the national grid (20.5%) or mini-grids (0.6%) and 14.7% have off-grid access. Off-grid sources predominantly include solar products such as solar lanterns, solar home systems, and solar lighting systems, and off-grid use is largely limited to rural areas. The adoption of solar lanterns, however, is significantly higher than the use of other products in rural areas. Other off-grid sources include electric generators and rechargeable batteries.

Access to electricity varies between rural and urban areas. Populations in urban areas are more likely to be connected to …

US Datacenters and Energy Report 2024

Annual electricity demand from US datacenters should reach over 280 TWh in 2024. By 2028, this will nearly double to 530 TWh or slightly more electricity than the entire state of Texas produced in 2022. Fueled by the increased computational demand created by generative AI, almost 50 GW of datacenter capacity is projected to be added to the grid by 2028 based on conservative estimates by S&P Global.

Energy reliability concerns and local grid constraints are rising in concentrated datacenter markets in the US. This highly sought-after report provides an overview of the top 10 US datacenter markets, identifies datacenter …

Scaling Utility-Enabled Distributed Energy Resources in Nigeria

Utility-enabled distributed energy resources (DERs) provide a unique opportunity to address the
persistent challenges of power availability and reliability in Nigeria. Leveraging the momentum
generated by initial “first-wave” projects, this strategic roadmap shows that a more than 20 GW
market opportunity is possible with the rapid expansion of utility-enabled DERs across
Nigeria over the next 10 years. This roadmap recommends solutions to address challenges
encountered by distribution companies (DisCos) and developers in reaching this scale. It
suggests a massive investment opportunity for distributed solar photovoltaics (PV), batteries,
and gas backup technologies that offer clear and tangible benefits for DisCos, project…

A Quantitative Analysis of Variables Affecting Power Transmission Infrastructure Projects in the US

Upgrading the US electric grid is vital to a successful energy transition. Transmission expansion lowers electricity costs for consumers; speeds deployment of new generation resources; provides economic opportunities for communities; increases system reliability, particularly in the face of extreme weather events; and enables large-scale transfers of power from areas of the country with high renewable energy potential to customers. But experience over the past twenty years has shown that new transmission projects often face extensive delays, impeding or even denying these potential benefits to consumers and communities. In response, policymakers at the state and federal level are considering reforms to …

Meeting Growing Electricity Demand Without Gas

Electricity demand is spiking due to data centers, a manufacturing boom, and electrification. This is good news – federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and CHIPS Act are working as intended to drive sustained economic growth through a clean energy economy. New Energy Innovation research finds we don’t need to fill the gap with more natural gas. Regulators and utilities can meet the need for more electricity, continue cleaning the grid, and maintain reliability by taking a holistic approach instead of just building more fossil generation or extending the life of fossil plants slated for retirement.…