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Grid-Edge Flexibility

Description

Grid-Edge Flexibility solutions, which utilize distributed energy resources (DER) to shape load curves, modulate resources, and support grid needs, are needed to cost-effectively realize the goals laid out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), including a 70% renewables generation mix by 2030. For example, flexible generation and load will help to enable greater adoption of renewables and electric vehicles without overly constraining existing distribution infrastructure.

Grid-Edge Flexibility needs can be addressed with a variety of solutions. Here are some illustrative examples, and we expect even more solutions could address this Innovation Opportunity:

GRID-EDGE FLEXIBILITY INNOVATION SPRINT

Welcome to our Grid-Edge Flexibility Innovation Sprint. Our goal is to accelerate the implementation of innovative solutions in partnership with utilities that advance New York State’s Climate Act targets and provide value by addressing an unmet need.

REV Connect Innovation Sprints focus attention on timely and specific utility needs for innovative energy partnerships. We invite companies to submit ideas. Top submitters will receive expert feedback, be invited to a one-on-one meeting with New York utilities, and benefit from potential matchmaking with one or more of the utilities to pursue innovative partnerships.

The Grid-Edge Flexibility Innovation Sprint kicks off with a webinar, closes with a submission deadline, and culminates in an invitation-only workshop.

Key Dates:

    • Webinar: February 10, 2021 at 2 PM Eastern
    • Submission deadline: March 10, 2021 at 8 PM Eastern
    • Facilitation: March-April
    • Workshop: April 27th, 2021

Want to participate? See links to additional information here that will help you put your best foot forward and subscribe to our mailing list to stay informed about upcoming activities.

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 Sprint Outcomes

Utility-Specific Interests

Utility Propose Ideas Via Interests and Needs
Con Edison REV Connect
National Grid REV Connect
NYPA REV Connect
  • Technology solutions and companion business models that support public DCFC sites and electric bus depot needs, including reducing the need for utility upgrades and optimizing flexibility for participation in grid service opportunities
  • Deployment of advanced data analytics and modeling at a facility to baseline and assess clean energy measures beyond energy conservation, to include energy supply options, energy storage, demand flexibility, on-site renewables, retro-commissioning and O&M, grid services, electrification, wholesale market interactions, and resiliency
NYSEG and RG&E REV Connect
PSEG Long Island REV Connect
  • Innovative energy storage solutions that are cost-effective & commercially available to meet CLCPA energy storage goals by 2025, as well as defer transmission and distribution infrastructure projects
  • A holistic package that can monitor and adjust building load based on price and dispatch signals – this pilot should demonstrate interoperability among devices from different manufacturers, with the goal of capacity relief
  • Ways to increase hosting capacity for renewables

Example Project Concepts

Below are examples of compelling flexibility solutions to help seed your innovative thinking. This list is not exclusive, nor do we guarantee any of these ideas would advance, so we invite you to submit your best, most innovative ideas. If you have questions on these idea examples, please contact the REV Connect team.

 

Hosting Capacity

Example Concept Example Description
Sample Idea: Hosting Capacity Management Pilot
  • A holistic solution that enables active management of local, dynamic hosting capacity through continuous monitoring of network load and active management of flexible resources including smart inverters and storage
  • The solution enables greater renewables, EVSE, and other DER to be deployed on constrained areas of the network while reducing interconnection costs and the need for infrastructure upgrades
  • The pilot focuses on managing resources in a localized area, such as a single substation or feeder
Sample Idea: Hosting Capacity Marketplace
  • A platform that facilitates transactions between new resources seeking hosting capacity (e.g., to reduce interconnection costs) and existing resources that are able to provide hosting capacity
  • The utility provides necessary system data and pays to establish the platform, then receives transaction fees from the platform

 

Building-to-Grid Integration

Example Concept Example Description
Sample Idea: Flexible Building Load Management Platform
  • A solution that enables customers to easily manage their load flexibility to provide grid services while maintaining comfort and serving essential needs
  • The platform allows customers to choose from a set of options (e.g., preferences, constraints) offering varying degrees of load flexibility with corresponding differences in savings/incentives
  • The grid benefits from the flexible loads are shared between the utility, the customer, and the platform provider
Sample Idea: Interoperable Building Control Solution
  • A DER control and communication solution that is interoperable with a wide variety of end devices, overcoming issues with disparate and proprietary communications and controls to facilitate utility visibility/control
  • The solution facilitates provision of customer bill savings, wholesale market participation, and provision of local grid services

 

Managed Charging

Example Concept Example Description
Sample Idea: Fleets-as-a-Service
  • Turnkey solution to accelerate fleet electrification by lowering barriers to adoption
  • Financing partner provides access to low-cost financing costs for fleet EV adoption, conditional on fleet acting as a grid-beneficial load
  • Utility facilitates customer acquisition and pays incentives to fleet operators for providing grid services
Sample Idea: Flexible Charging Platform for Drivers
  • A solution that enables customers to easily manage their EV charging flexibility
  • The platform allows customers to choose from a set of options (e.g., preferences, constraints) offering varying degrees of charging flexibility with corresponding differences in savings/incentives
  • The grid benefits from the flexible charging are shared between the utility, the customer, and the platform provider
Sample Idea: Flexible EVSE Interconnection Capacity
  • An EVSE controls solution that enables flexible/reduced interconnection capacity by managing the aggregate capacity/demand of a network of chargers behind a single interconnection point
  • Utilities support customer acquisition to help reduce make-ready costs
  • EVSE developers save on capital and operating costs, while the solution provider receives a share of the make-ready savings for the utility
Sample Idea: Interoperable Managed Charging Controls
  • An EVSE control solution that is interoperable with a broad set of charger- and vehicle-based active managed charging technologies
  • The solution facilitates provision of grid services, managed by the utility
  • The grid services benefits are shared between the utility, the customer, and the platform provider

Funding Pathways

If you have a solution in this area, you can also explore these funding pathways:

Similarly, utilities may highlight flexibility needs within the Smart Grid Program