Electric utilities are increasingly adopting Distributed Energy Resource (DER) programs to modernize aging infrastructure, improve grid reliability, and transition toward cleaner energy systems.
It wasn't always this way. Grid operators in some interconnections once considered distributed energy resources (DERs) as outliers, secondary components of the power dynamic. Developers of those DERs would have to approach the grid system powers-that-be to try and find a place in the value proposition, although they were already offering the value in solar, battery storage and microgrids.
That dynamic has been turned on its head, as PowerSecure's Todd Jackson points out in this new EnergyTech QuickChat with ET Managing Editor Rod Walton. Jackson, who is vice president of corporate development at PowerSecure, points out that on-site power, backup generation and distributed resources are now sought after by grid planners and utilities. The goal of this new era in electric demand is mission-critical resiliency and resource adequacy, so it's all hands on deck.
These programs support utilities in addressing rising electricity demand, reducing peak loads, and integrating intermittent renewable energy sources into the grid. Additionally, regulatory policies and decarbonization targets drive utilities to explore DERs as viable solutions to meet clean energy mandates and sustainability goals.
This conversation with Jackson explores the economic, technological, and regulatory drivers behind DER adoption and assesses their impact on utility operations. It highlights how DERs enhance grid flexibility, support resilience during outages, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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