Articles tagged with "distributed-energy-resources"
Active Managed EV Charging Can Double EV Hosting Capacity - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the significant benefits of active managed electric vehicle (EV) charging in enhancing the capacity of electrical distribution grids to support EVs. Unlike passive charging strategies, active managed charging uses real-time control algorithms and telematics to optimize when and how EVs charge. This approach can reduce peak demand by up to 50% by smoothing out the load and preventing simultaneous charging surges, known as the “snapback” effect, which commonly occurs with static time-of-use (TOU) rates. Trials showed that active management lowered aggregate peak loads by 55% compared to passive TOU strategies. A key takeaway is that active managed charging can effectively double the EV hosting capacity of distribution systems, meaning more EVs can be supported without costly infrastructure upgrades. The study evaluated two variations of EnergyHub’s active managed charging solutions—TOU + Load Limits and Wholesale + Load Limits—which shift charging to off-peak times while respecting load limits at multiple grid levels, from primary feeders down
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-chargingvehicle-to-gridsmart-griddistributed-energy-resourcesdemand-responseAspen Power Acquires New York Community Solar Projects - CleanTechnica
Aspen Power has acquired two community solar projects in upstate New York from CTEC Solar, marking the first phase of an 18-megawatt direct current (MWdc) portfolio. These projects, totaling nearly seven megawatts, are expected to generate close to 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power approximately 2,700 homes in the region. They will participate in New York’s Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) program, which compensates renewable energy projects for grid benefits and offers subscribers discounts on utility rates. This acquisition comes amid rising electricity costs in upstate New York due to increased delivery revenues sought by utilities and recently approved rate plans. The partnership leverages CTEC Solar’s development expertise and Aspen Power’s operational and financial strengths to expand community solar capacity, delivering economic, environmental, and energy reliability benefits locally. Aspen Power emphasizes its commitment to advancing clean energy and supporting local jobs despite challenging policy environments. CTEC Solar highlights its role in providing
energysolar-powerrenewable-energycommunity-solardistributed-energy-resourcesclean-energyenergy-storageCommon Charge and Advancing Distributed Energy - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the launch and mission of Common Charge, a new energy coalition focused on advancing distributed energy resources (DERs) in the United States. According to Mary Rafferty, the Executive Director of Common Charge, the organization advocates for distributed assets as a means to provide affordable energy to all ratepayers while enhancing grid resilience. This approach is particularly important given the growing demand from electrification, data centers, and AI, which necessitates protecting consumers from energy price hikes and ensuring energy security to prevent blackouts and outages. Common Charge was established in September and aims to promote distributed energy solutions as a key strategy for a more reliable and equitable energy future. The article also mentions a podcast discussion with Rafferty that provides further insights into the organization’s goals and activities. Additionally, the piece includes information about CleanTechnica’s content offerings and its editor Zachary Shahan, who is an expert in electric vehicles and renewable energy.
energydistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-resilienceelectrificationrenewable-energyenergy-securityenergy-storageWhy the electrical grid needs more software
The electrical grid, traditionally unnoticed when functioning smoothly, has recently come under intense scrutiny due to crises like California wildfires and Texas freezes, as well as rising electricity demand driven by the AI boom and data center expansion. In 2025, concerns about grid capacity, pricing, and resource strain intensified, prompting utilities to urgently upgrade infrastructure and build new power plants. This environment has created opportunities for software startups offering innovative solutions to optimize grid management, site selection for new infrastructure, and integration of distributed energy resources. Startups such as Gridcare and Yottar use data analytics to identify optimal locations for grid expansion and facilitate connections for medium-sized users amid the data center surge. Others, like Base Power and Terralayr, aggregate distributed battery storage into virtual power plants to provide backup and grid support, while companies like Texture, Uplight, and Camus focus on coordinating renewable energy sources to improve efficiency. Major tech players like Nvidia and Google are also applying AI to enhance grid resilience and streamline connection processes
energyelectrical-gridsoftware-startupsvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcesAI-in-energygrid-modernization500x more powerful: US' GridEdge Analyzer processes 60,000 measurements
Researchers from the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed the Universal GridEdge Analyzer, a compact and secure sensing device that provides unprecedented real-time insight into electric grid behavior. This device can be embedded into power electronics or plugged into a wall outlet to measure minute changes in electrical voltage and current at an extraordinary rate of 60,000 measurements per second—500 times faster than previous technologies. The analyzer captures split-second reactions from fast-switching power electronics, which are increasingly used in distributed energy resources and can impact grid stability. By compressing, encrypting, and streaming data almost instantly to centralized servers, the device enables utilities to monitor and improve grid operations more effectively. Building on the existing FNET/GridEye frequency monitoring network, which offers a broad overview of grid activity through 200 sensors in the U.S. and about 100 worldwide, the GridEdge Analyzer delivers more detailed and faster data. Its flexible design allows deployment in various settings, including power electronics, distribution lines
energysmart-gridpower-electronicsreal-time-monitoringdistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-stabilitypredictive-analyticsArmy Of Meter Socket Adapters Is Coming For Your Fossil Fuels
The article discusses how ConnectDER, a US startup founded in 2011, is innovating the energy transition by retrofitting electricity meters with meter socket adapters (or meter collars) to make rooftop solar, home energy storage, and EV charging more affordable—especially for older homes that would otherwise require costly electrical system upgrades. These adapters allow clean energy devices to plug directly into the meter socket, bypassing the need for expensive main panel upgrades that can cost thousands of dollars and delay installations. This approach supports distributed energy resources (DERs), which include both energy-producing and energy-consuming devices that help balance grid demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure. A significant recent development is that Illinois’ two largest utilities, ComEd and Ameren, have approved ConnectDER’s products for use in homes, potentially impacting over 50 million households nationwide. This approval streamlines the installation process, lowering costs and timelines for DER adoption in a state where many homes are 40-50 years old and still have outdated
energyrenewable-energydistributed-energy-resourcesmeter-socket-adaptersEV-chargingsolar-powerhome-energy-storageVirtual Power Plants Thwart Plot Against Renewable Energy - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the resilience and ongoing growth of the US renewable energy transition despite recent political challenges, emphasizing the rapid expansion of solar plus storage capacity as the leading source of new utility-scale energy additions. Wind energy continues to contribute steadily, while virtual power plants (VPPs) are emerging as a critical technology to harness distributed energy resources (DERs)—which include rooftop solar, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, and other electricity-consuming or producing devices outside traditional centralized power plants. By aggregating and managing these DERs, VPPs enable grid operators to balance supply and demand dynamically, reducing the need for new gas peaker plants and enhancing renewable energy integration. A notable development in the VPP sector is the acquisition of Texas-based Resideo Grid Service by Brooklyn-based EnergyHub, combining their DER management platforms to offer utilities a unified system for overseeing more than 2.5 million DERs. Both companies share origins in the property security industry, suggesting a promising technology crossover between security
energyrenewable-energyvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcesDERMSgrid-managementenergy-storageSolar Is Becoming A Valued Global Solution To Fight Power Outages - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the growing global recognition of solar energy as a reliable solution to power outages and energy access challenges, especially in the wake of extreme weather events like Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. While the hurricane caused prolonged power outages and infrastructure damage, residents with solar-powered homes retained electricity, underscoring solar’s resilience. This scenario reflects a broader trend where countries worldwide, particularly in the Global South, are increasingly adopting distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels, microgrids, and small wind turbines to gain energy independence, improve reliability, and provide electricity where grids are unreliable or nonexistent. Solar energy’s scalability and ease of deployment make it especially suited for DER applications. Innovations like plug-in solar systems and portable solar generators enable households to offset power use without complex installations or regulatory hurdles. The article notes rapid solar capacity growth in emerging markets like Pakistan, Thailand, and others in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, driven by the urgent need for affordable, reliable energy and energy sovereignty. Governments and
energysolar-powerrenewable-energydistributed-energy-resourcesmicrogridsenergy-storageclean-energyPuerto Rico Keeps Getting Hammered By Political Storms - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the ongoing political and infrastructural challenges Puerto Rico faces, particularly regarding its electrical grid. Puerto Rico, a US commonwealth since the Spanish-American War, suffers from high import costs due to the Jones Act and has a geographically challenging terrain that complicates infrastructure maintenance. The island’s electrical grid, centralized along the south coast and reliant on outdated transmission lines crossing difficult mountainous terrain, was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The US government’s decision to rebuild the grid around centralized fossil fuel generation has been controversial, especially as the island’s residents increasingly adopt decentralized energy solutions like rooftop solar and microgrids. A recent IEEFA report shows that over 10% of Puerto Rico’s electricity consumption now comes from rooftop solar, with about 1.2 gigawatts installed as of mid-2025. The number of solar systems has quintupled in four years, driven by residents seeking to escape the unreliable grid, which has seen worsening outage metrics compared to
energyrenewable-energysolar-powermicrogridsdistributed-energy-resourceselectricity-gridPuerto-Rico-energy-crisisOctopus Energy spins off its Kraken utility billing and AI platform
British renewable energy company Octopus Energy is spinning off its Kraken utility billing and AI platform into a separate entity, with a potential initial public offering (IPO) valued at $15 billion possibly occurring within a year. Kraken was originally Octopus’s first product, designed as a demonstration client before Octopus itself grew to serve over 7.7 million UK households and 2.8 million internationally. The spinoff aims to reduce conflicts of interest as Kraken seeks to partner with other utilities and power providers beyond Octopus. Octopus Energy, founded in 2015, has rapidly expanded to become the UK’s largest energy supplier, surpassing British Gas. Its growth has been driven by innovative customer acquisition strategies such as the Zero Bills program, which eliminates energy bills for fully electrified homes, and the Agile tariff, which incentivizes customers to use electricity during grid surpluses. Kraken leverages AI to analyze data from these initiatives and optimize the integration of renewable energy on the grid. The platform supports
energyrenewable-energyAI-platformutility-billingsmart-griddistributed-energy-resourceselectric-vehiclesConnectDER Introduces IslandDER Home Energy Storage Solution - CleanTechnica
ConnectDER has introduced IslandDER, a home energy storage solution designed to simplify the integration of rooftop solar, EV chargers, and residential storage batteries without costly electrical panel upgrades. Many older homes, especially those built before the 1980s, have 100 amp service panels that cannot handle these modern energy demands, often requiring expensive upgrades to 200 or 400 amps. IslandDER addresses this challenge by offering meter socket adapters (MSAs) that install easily between the utility meter and meter socket, incorporating all necessary components such as voltage sensing, current transformers, and an isolation switch (Microgrid Interconnect Device) in one unit. This eliminates the need to modify the breaker panel, reducing installation time and cost significantly. The IslandDER device is UL listed and NEC certified, ensuring safety and compliance. It enables safe islanding—disconnecting the home from the grid during outages to protect utility workers—while allowing homeowners to use solar and battery power for backup. Unlike other meter collar products that require using a
energyhome-energy-storagesolar-powerdistributed-energy-resourceselectric-vehicle-chargingresidential-energy-backupmicrogrid-technologyEnergyHub Acquires Bridge To Renewables To Expand Managed EV Charging - CleanTechnica
EnergyHub, a leading provider of grid-edge flexibility solutions, has acquired Bridge to Renewables (BTR), an EV-telematics platform connected to over 500,000 electric vehicles. This acquisition aims to expand EnergyHub’s managed electric vehicle (EV) charging capabilities and enhance the use of EV batteries as virtual power plants (VPPs). Unlike traditional gas vehicles, EVs’ batteries can collectively support electrical grids by providing distributed energy resources (DERs). VPPs composed of these DERs can reduce infrastructure costs significantly—studies suggest nationwide deployment of 60 GW of VPP capacity could save ratepayers $15 billion to $35 billion over ten years—and help manage peak demand more efficiently than conventional gas peaker plants. EnergyHub’s technology enables utilities to manage various DERs, including EVs, thermostats, and batteries, through a single VPP platform. This approach allows utilities to alleviate grid challenges such as peak load reduction and local congestion by leveraging AI-driven optimizations
energyelectric-vehiclesvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-edge-flexibilitydemand-responserenewable-energy$200 Million More For Clean Energy Here, There, & Everywhere - CleanTechnica
The article highlights a recent $200 million capital commitment secured by GDEV Management, a U.S.-based investment firm specializing in distributed energy resources (DERs). DERs represent a shift from traditional centralized power plants to a more decentralized, hybrid electricity grid incorporating small-scale rooftop solar, energy storage, and utility-scale renewable assets. This model enhances clean energy adoption and grid resiliency while enabling electricity users—including businesses and households—to strategically manage energy demand and potentially generate revenue. GDEV Management launched its first DERs fund in 2020, focusing on behind-the-meter resources and on-site power generation, including partnerships such as one with CleanCapital and Nelnet supporting solar aggregation under an energy-as-a-service model requiring no upfront payment. The firm’s recently closed Fund II, with $200 million in commitments, aims to build and scale DER platforms into mature infrastructure businesses deploying long-term assets, including over 330 megawatts of power generation and 260 megawatts of energy storage. Among the platforms supported
energyclean-energydistributed-energy-resourcesrenewable-energyenergy-storagemicrogridsolar-powerPromoting Economic Efficiency in Interconnection — Part 1: Coordination Between Interconnection & Grid Planning - CleanTechnica
The article discusses rising interconnection costs for distributed energy resources (DERs), such as community solar, across various U.S. jurisdictions, attributing inefficiencies to fragmented utility planning and implementation of grid upgrades. To address these challenges, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hosting a webinar on August 21, 2025, focusing on enhancing coordination between DER interconnection processes and long-term grid planning. The event aims to explore solutions like synchronizing DER project interconnections with distribution system planning and improving data sharing between interconnection and grid planning entities to reduce costs and improve system efficiency. This webinar is part of a series stemming from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) and its recently published DER Interconnection Roadmap, which outlines strategies for simpler, faster, and fairer DER interconnections. The i2X initiative fosters collaboration among utilities, regulators, developers, and grid operators to tackle interconnection challenges and promote practical solutions. Future webinars will address cost allocation
energydistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-planninginterconnectionutility-planningrenewable-energyelectricity-system-upgradesAirports Could Bolster Grid Security & Adaptability — NREL - CleanTechnica
The article discusses how regional and general aviation airports in the U.S. could play a crucial role in enhancing grid security and adaptability amid rapidly increasing electricity demand driven by aviation growth. With the rise of electric fleets such as rental vehicles, ground support equipment, and electrified aircraft, electricity demand at airports is projected to increase fivefold over the next 20 years. Many smaller airports currently rely on simple rural electric connections, making the expansion of electric infrastructure a costly and complex challenge. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with NASA, are exploring how on-site distributed energy resources (DERs) like local power generation and storage can offset infrastructure costs, improve resilience, and potentially generate revenue by selling electricity back to the grid. NREL and NASA’s research initiative, ÆNodes, focuses on developing a scalable model for approximately 5,000 U.S. regional and general aviation airports to assess their energy needs and optimize their role as energy nodes. The project involves forecasting electric loads,
energyrenewable-energydistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-securityenergy-storageairport-energy-managementNRELWhy engineers are turning to virtual power plants to stabilize the grid
Virtual power plants (VPPs) represent a transformative shift in electricity grid management by aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicles, and smart appliances into a coordinated, software-driven network. Unlike traditional centralized power plants, VPPs operate without physical infrastructure, instead relying on real-time communication and control software to balance supply and demand dynamically across thousands of devices. This decentralized approach allows VPPs to perform essential grid functions like peak shaving, demand response, and load balancing, effectively stabilizing the grid without building new generation facilities. The rise of VPPs is driven by the rapid adoption of DERs and advances in grid control technology, enabling faster deployment and greater scalability compared to conventional power plants. VPPs can span large geographic areas and integrate diverse energy assets, distinguishing them from microgrids, which are localized and capable of islanded operation. Engineers favor VPPs for their reliability, flexibility, and cost efficiency, as they reduce
energyvirtual-power-plantsdistributed-energy-resourcessmart-gridbattery-storagerooftop-solardemand-responseLeap Powers National Grid’s Virtual Power Plant Initiative in Massachusetts - CleanTechnica
National Grid, one of the largest energy utilities, has expanded its collaboration with Leap to implement virtual power plant (VPP) solutions at selected facilities in Massachusetts, following a successful pilot in New York. Using Leap’s software-only platform, National Grid’s office buildings will participate in Massachusetts’ Clean Peak Standard and ConnectedSolutions programs, which incentivize reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods. This initiative aims to enhance grid reliability, lower carbon emissions, and support the state’s climate goals by leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, EV chargers, and HVAC systems to balance grid demand without relying heavily on fossil-fueled peaker plants. The collaboration highlights the growing role of grid-interactive buildings as valuable resources in the energy transition. National Grid’s Vice President of New England Operations emphasized the importance of demonstrating distributed energy solutions’ critical role in advancing clean energy and resilience. Leap’s technology aggregates DER loads into virtual power plants, enabling participation in energy markets and helping to reduce customer costs
energyvirtual-power-plantdistributed-energy-resourcesgrid-reliabilityclean-energyenergy-transitionsmart-gridOntario’s first Integrated Energy Plan builds on progress while failing to address security and affordability concerns of natural gas - Clean Energy Canada
Ontario’s first Integrated Energy Plan, released recently, advances the province’s leadership in modernizing its electricity system by emphasizing distributed energy resources (such as battery storage, rooftop solar, and smart EV charging) and energy efficiency. These initiatives are seen as positive steps that can help address cost-of-living challenges and serve as a model for other Canadian jurisdictions. The plan also initiates an integrated energy planning process, which is a significant development for the province’s energy strategy. However, the plan has notable shortcomings, particularly regarding natural gas. While it sets broad goals around affordability, security, reliability, and clean energy, it lacks specific targets or metrics to measure progress. Independent modeling accompanying the plan highlights risks associated with continued reliance on natural gas, especially for household energy affordability. Contrary to these findings, the plan proposes expanding natural gas use in electricity and distribution systems, which could undermine potential consumer savings from electrification and clean technologies. Thus, despite the plan’s strengths, significant concerns remain about its ability to meet
energyintegrated-energy-planclean-energynatural-gaselectricity-system-modernizationenergy-efficiencydistributed-energy-resources