Use of Operating Agreements and Energy Storage to Reduce Photovoltaic Interconnection Costs

State decarbonization goals and visions for large-scale electrification of the thermal and transportation sectors necessitate increased and accelerated deployment of renewable and distributed energy resources (DERs). The existing electrical infrastructure and supporting interconnection and permitting processes will need to be updated to support efficient and cost-effective renewable energy deployment at scale. Common challenges that increase the cost of integrating renewables include mismatches in timing between renewable energy production and peak electricity consumption, as well as the physical distance between large renewable energy systems and electric load centers.

In this Clean Energy States Alliance webinar, we explore one integrated technical and process concept designed to manage interconnection costs and streamline interconnection timelines to support near-term renewable energy deployment. We describe a new agreement between renewable energy developers and utilities, informed by a technical and economic analysis. The agreement defines the operational parameters for a renewable energy system, with the goal of reducing risk and cost to all parties. This work provides a foundation upon which states and utilities may build proof of concept.

Read the conceptual framework here and the technical and economic analysis here.

Panelists:

• Carrie Gill, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources
• Shauna Beland, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources
• Joyce McLaren, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Ryan Constable, National Grid
• Todd Olinsky-Paul, Clean Energy States Alliance (moderator)