Gregg Semler

For anyone who will be at IEEE Power & Energy Society T&D Conference feel free to stop by our panel session on #EVs and #gridreliability. Will be an interesting cross-sector discussion including technology provider, independent system operator, and utility perspectives among others. E-mobility is driving the blending of Transmission and Distribution system planning, design, and operations. Particularly with the growing prevalence of distributed energy resources, IoT and grid-edge technologies, and virtual power plants (#VPPs).

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💡 Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has identified pathways for Washington’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities to contribute to the state’s overall GHG emission reduction goals. The report highlights key insights gained from our modelling work including: 🔀 multiple options exist to achieve desired emissions reductions targets 🔌 electricity consumption will not outstrip supply with energy efficiency gains 💰 implementing decarbonizing pathways sooner will lead to greater savings You can download the report here: https://lnkd.in/g8SUYTiQ

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#ERCOT's recent approval of NPRR1224 means #energystorage asset operators should expect an increase in ECRS deployments, along with a reduction in real time price volatility. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁: Last year’s introduction of ECRS led to an unintentional increase in energy prices for buyers. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯? 💵 The new product created a new revenue opportunity for energy producers. ⛔ As more assets were bidding into ECRS, their capacity was being held in reserves, and therefore were withheld or unavailable to be dispatched in the real-time energy market. 🙈 To ERCOT it appeared as though supply was not able to meet demand, despite the fact that the capacity was there – this is called artificial scarcity. 📈 Due to the appearance of scarcity, real time prices would increase.  In an effort to quell artificial scarcity, ERCOT is implementing NPRR1224, which enables them to manually release up to 500MW of ECRS capacity from the SCED at a 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 $𝟳𝟱𝟬/𝗠𝗪𝗵 when: 🚨 Energy demand exceeds the supply dispatched by SCED by 40MW or more ⏰ The imbalance lasts for 10 consecutive minutes 

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This Fall's CAISO data has really illustrated that California's renewable energy system is operating near perfection. The state's most efficient power plants dip a little bit without the need for inefficient peaker-plants to turn on. More solar and batteries will be needed to meet regulatory requirements, but with a constant 6 GW of very efficient combined cycle natural plants on the margin and 3.5 cent marginal energy costs, might claim victory at this point and show the rest of the Country how to do it.

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Canary Media with an article on how rural electric cooperatives are tapping into the IRA to fund the shift from fossil to renewable generation. "How $7.3B will help rural co-ops build clean power—and close coal plants This Inflation Reduction Act program is offering 16 rural electric co-ops financing to overcome the up-front costs of shifting from dirty coal to clean power. Rural electric cooperatives, which bring electricity to the most sparsely populated parts of the country, are getting their biggest federal investment since the New Deal — and this time around, the money is going to help fight climate change. Last week, the Biden administration announced $7.3 billion in financing for 16 rural co-ops serving about 5 million households across 23 states. The money will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which implemented the Rural Electrification Act, the 1936 law that financed the buildout of the grid in more remote areas of the country. It will also be matched by more than $29 billion in private investments with a goal of building more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy. That’s a big jump from the nearly 16 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity co-ops have today." Read more at https://conta.cc/4d4kLmE #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenerg

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"The vision is to have these distributed power plants — which can be stood-up, scaled and dispatched far more quickly and affordably than conventional centralized power plants — drive down costs and boost reliability for all the grid’s users. The problem is that only one of the six FERC-jurisdictional grid operators, the California Independent System Operator, has successfully developed — and begun implementing — a wholly compliant Order No. 2222 implementation plan. But it’s the case of the nation’s largest grid, the PJM Interconnection, that best illustrates the costs of non-compliance. Case in point are the results of what’s known as its July “capacity auction,” a process by which power plants are paid to commit to be available, and consumers are paid to conserve during future emergencies. Beset with an extraordinary mismatch of power supply and demand, the results of that July auction tell us that the price of electricity for 65 million people across the mid-Atlantic and Midwest is set to increase significantly next year, and it threatens to keep climbing thereafter. Regrettably, in a region with growing fleets of rooftop #solar panels, #batteries and #electricvehicles, distributed power plants, or DPPs, were not afforded a chance to mitigate this summer’s record-shattering capacity auction. Though, to PJM’s credit, it’s not for lack of trying; after one failed attempt, earlier this year PJM’s plan for integrating DPPs into its wholesale energy markets was accepted by FERC just a few days prior to the capacity auction. Yet, despite the proverbial canary in the coal mine, PJM has since informally proposed delaying their approved plan’s effective date by two years — or at least four additional capacity auctions — from February 2026 to February 2028. That would mark more than seven years since Order No. 2222 was handed down." #FERC2222 #VirtualPowerPlants

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This is the most authoritative piece I’ve read on emissions, and really highlights the benefit of living and operating a business in California. It should make emissions accounting much easier if the cost is already included in electric rates. It should make businesses outside California want back in. https://lnkd.in/eeVkj-_3

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Grid Reliability Impacts of EV Charging-Two Important Initiatives-Call for Engagement Several years ago, with the support of EnerTech Capital, the California Mobility Center, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), WECC and other organizations, I was fortunate to be involved in helping to form and manage a working group focused on increasing cross sector collaboration to better understand and mitigate potential adverse impacts of EV charging. In April 2022, a CMC working group published a paper including a number of grid friendly charging recommendations, as well as highlighted the need for more robust technical collaboration between the electric industry and EV OEMs and real-world data to both support and build on recommendations regarding grid friendly charging behaviors. I'm highlighting two recent initiatives and encouraging ongoing technical engagement and support from experts in utility, automotive, communications, software, consulting, and related fields. NERC is proposing to stand up an electric vehicle task force under its industry led Reliability Security Technical Committee. The task force deliverables over 2 years include reports regarding bulk power system reliability risks, a technical report on EV charging states and type tests, improvements in EV charging load modeling, and recommendations regarding interconnection requirements. For more information contact [email protected] or [email protected] In addition, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute recently made available a paper entitled “Exploratory Pilot: Analyzing Grid and EV Interactions Through Measuring Driving Behavior, Charging Behavior and Electricity.”  James Sayer and Eric Wingfield led the work for UMTRI, together with Taylor Spalt from Utilidata. The pilot monitored ten vehicles for operational data over 86 days at 8 public charging locations outfitted with Utilidata’s meter adapters. Among the observations was that during specific charging events, EVs generated increased power loss, contributed to voltage loss, and created unfriendly grid responses among other effects. Further research is recommended to support the assessment of potential broader grid impacts, as well as improve modeling. These observations are consistent with the findings contained in the CMC working group report. The paper also included observations regarding charging behaviors and impacts. Continued stakeholder supported research by UMTRI is critical and can help inform the NERC EV Task Force initiative. Please reach out to Eric Wingfiled at UMTRI for a copy of the paper. He may be reached at [email protected] Fostering electric system reliability is critical to the success and reputation of the automotive and utility industries.  Getting this type of collaboration off the ground and maintaining momentum is not easy, especially given the pressing challenges facing both industries. Please lean in. Your support is critical.

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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently issued a decision that sets timelines for the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities to complete customer energization projects. Energization is the process of connecting electrification projects—such as electric vehicle charging equipment—to the grid so that we can make use of our clean energy technologies. By setting timelines to complete energization projects, the CPUC decision recognizes that the state’s clean energy transition can’t happen without the timely integration of electrification projects to the grid. IREC has been actively engaged in the decision’s proceedings and contributed to the decision’s results. Our new blog post digs into the CPUC’s decision requirements for energization timelines, how the decision sets out to implement current clean energy laws and goals, and why accelerating energization is crucial for our transition to clean energy. Read it now at https://lnkd.in/g3fqQ_fD!

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LG Electronics and University of Alaska Anchorage launch research labs testing heat pumps at -40°F in Alaska, advancing cold-climate #HVAC technology as part of a global research consortium. #CleanEnergy #Climate #TechNews Link: https://lnkd.in/gKGSej_X

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Karen Herter, this is an incredibly timely and helpful report. Most telecom and energy engineers are focused on deploying two-way networks and IP connectivity to everything. In contrast, this report provides strategic quantification of the benefits of using multiple existing networks to provide hyperconnectivity to demand response devices. Well done!!!

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FERC has approved interconnection reform - and this is *generally* good for the energy transition. That said the devil in in the details of how states and utilities implement these changes. Some improvements like penalties assessed against utilities for tardy studies, trying to clean out queue squatters, and expressly identifying certain technical flexibility into interconnection design are good. However, we have specifically seen "Cluster Studies" and higher financial security requirements stymie development and create very costly and endless loops of re-studies in many markets (utility and DG). Calling on American Clean Power Association (ACP) Solar Energy Industries Association and importantly state level advocacy and watch dog groups to closely watch and actively participate as the implementation of these changes occur at the state level PUCs and DPUs - ensuring proper accountability and fair play. https://lnkd.in/ewehaH52 NYSERDA New York Solar Energy Industries Association MID-ATLANTIC RENEWABLE ENERGY COALITION Renewable Energy Vermont American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Smart Electric Power Alliance NECEC Cleantech Leaders Roundtable

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#Microgrid project Aims to Cut #Diesel Use, Save on #Energy Costs, Move Toward #EnergyIndependence in 8 #Rural Alaskan Communities: Lucas Miller Laurel Hamilton Trent Maw Michael Stadler https://lnkd.in/g85bhaP8

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Today, Edison International published Reaching Net Zero, a forward-looking analysis that reinforces the urgent need for public-private collaboration, enhanced efficiencies and significant investment in clean firm generation to meet California’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.   While California’s clean energy future is within reach, it is not assured. We need proactive planning to address and navigate challenges and risks.   Edison International is committed to delivering 100% clean electricity to customers and reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2045. I hope you’ll take some time to read this significant new analysis.   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gWVNyKCX   #NetZeroBy2045 #cleanenergy #sustainability #renewableenergy #ClimateWeekNYC

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Go to slide 9 showing how far and fast the grid is falling behind in being able to connect utility scale renewables. Yet, the California Public Utilities Commission continues to create obstacles to the growth of distributed generation.

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