Challenges for Distributed Energy Resources and Virtual Power Plants

Matt Chester of Chester Energy and Policy recently had the pleasure of joining a USEA Virtual Press Briefing as a member of the media asking pointed questions to key leaders in the sector. The full details and video can be found at this USEA.org link, and the relevant information is also copied below.

Relations between electric utilities and the environmental movement have often been stressed. Now these entities are happily united on the latest megatrend in electricity supply: distributed energy resources, known by the acronym DER.

These are desirable for balancing the intermittency of renewables, mainly solar and wind. Also, they are the building blocks of the envisioned virtual power plant (VPP) — a favorite concept of the environmental community and which is supported by the Biden administration.

DER takes up the slack in the electricity system and enhances the available power supply without building new generation or new transmission. Almost by definition they must be close to demand centers and available to the utility during peak electricity hours.

These critical questions and more will be addressed in this briefing, which will consist of a panel of experts taking questions from knowledgeable journalists. USEA Acting Executive Director Sheila Hollis will give opening remarks. Llewellyn King, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and broadcaster, organized this briefing and will moderate.

The Experts:

• Jon Wellinghoff, Former Chairman of FERC; Chief Regulatory Officer, Voltus, Inc.

• Rudy Garza, President, CPS Energy, San Antonio

• John Reynolds, President, Agile Fractal Grid

• Duane Highley, CEO, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Denver

• Ahmed Mousa, Utility of the Future Manager, PSE&G

The Reporters:

• Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal

• Herman Trabish, Utility Dive

• Ken Silverstein, Forbes

• Rod Kuckro, Freelance

• Matt Chester, Energy Central