Regulatory Sandboxes and Other Processes to Expedite Utility Adoption of Advanced Grid Technologies - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the increasing pressures on electricity grids from factors such as load growth, aging infrastructure, dynamic operational demands, and severe weather. Advanced grid technologies offer solutions to these challenges, but traditional regulatory frameworks often slow their adoption. Regulatory sandboxes present a promising approach by creating controlled environments where utilities can pilot innovative technologies and business models under modified rules, enabling faster testing and scaling. A new report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, documents examples of these sandboxes across a dozen U.S. jurisdictions, highlighting their use in deploying energy storage, smart distribution circuits, dynamic line rating, and new customer programs aimed at enhancing grid flexibility, resilience, and cybersecurity. The report identifies regulatory and industry barriers that hinder innovation and shows how sandboxes, alongside other innovation mechanisms, help overcome these challenges. Beyond technological advancements, sandboxes foster valuable relationship-building, dialogue, and a culture of experimentation among utilities and regulators. The findings and experiences from states that have