As utilities and regulators work toward aggressive clean energy goals, virtual power plants (VPPs) are key for ensuring grid stability and reliability, distributed energy resource integration, and cost savings for both utilities and customers. Successful VPP implementation is complex, and stakeholders including VPP providers, utilities, and regulators will benefit from knowledge sharing throughout the process. […] The post Virtual Power Plant Workshop: NARUC 2024 Winter Policy Summit appeared first on SEPA ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) appointed three prominent energy leaders to its Board of Directors – Elaina Ball, Chief Strategy Officer for CPS Energy; Commissioner Andrew McAllister, Ph.D., from the California Energy Commission; and Darryl Willis, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Energy and Resources Industry. “I am thrilled to have these […] The post SEPA Appoints Three Prominent Energy Leaders to its Board of Directors, representing CPS Energy, the California Energy Commission, and Microsoft appeared first on SEPA ..read more

The Importance of Developing EV Charging Infrastructure As we transition to a clean and modern electric future, government, businesses, and other stakeholders must collaborate to support the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Realizing a carbon-free energy system by 2050 depends on widespread availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and EV charging infrastructure. Consumers and […] The post EV Charging Infrastructure: Trends, Requirements & Costs appeared first on SEPA ..read more

EV sales have hit record highs over the past year and are slated for continued growth in 2024 and beyond (Bloomberg, 2024). At high rates of adoption, these EVs can have significant impacts on coincident-system and feeder-level peaks. In preparation for this adoption, utilities across the U.S. have been implementing managed charging programs to optimize […] The post From Unidirectional to Bidirectional: Understanding the Role and Value of Managed Charging appeared first on SEPA ..read more

I’m fortunate to live in an area of the United States where I’ve rarely worried about power outages beyond an occasional, harmless blip – until recently, that is. After enduring rolling blackouts during a severe cold snap (Winter Storm Elliott) in December 2022 and a multi-day outage arising from violent thunderstorms last August, I now […] The post Batteries Included: Transforming Homes into Resilient Power Hubs appeared first on SEPA ..read more

Introduction A massive shift is underway across the energy industry, highlighted by a recent analysis that indicates the U.S. electric power system is unprepared for significant, forecasted load growth. Utilities and grid operators have an ever-increasing need for short-term reliability and long-term resource adequacy, particularly as the clean energy transition unfolds. Amid global calls to […] The post End-to-End DERMS: Connecting the Control Room to the Grid Edge appeared first on SEPA ..read more

Introduction A massive shift is underway across the energy industry, highlighted by a recent analysis that indicates the U.S. electric power system is unprepared for significant, forecasted load growth. Utilities and grid operators have an ever-increasing need for short-term reliability and long-term resource adequacy, particularly as the clean energy transition unfolds. Amid global calls to […] The post A Grid-to-Prosumer Approach to a Unified DERMS appeared first on SEPA ..read more

SEPA’s Ann Collier, Senior Manager of Emerging Technology: “The last time I wrote a blog – in June 2023 – I remember talking with a friend about how she had started using ChatGPT for her writing. She encouraged me that it was saving her time and generating great results. It all sounded quite dazzling. I […] The post Demystifying Artificial Intelligence for a Carbon-Free Energy System appeared first on SEPA ..read more

Electric fleets are not on the horizon but rather at our doorstep. The U.S. EV industry is growing rapidly year over year with sales expected to grow from 1 million vehicles in 2022 to over 1.6 million in 2023.1 Utilities must also prepare for a significant increase in electricity demand caused by this shift in […] The post Revving Up for the Fleet Electrification Transition appeared first on SEPA ..read more

As more customers purchase bidirectional-capable vehicles and the necessary bidirectional charging equipment to enable them, utilities will need to understand how these systems interact with the grid and prepare for potential widespread adoption. Bidirectional chargers will be both a load and source of electricity. Utilities are beginning to study bidirectional charging systems through demonstration projects […] The post On the Horizon: Early Days for Utility Adoption of Bidirectional Charging appeared first on SEPA ..read more