Distributed Generation
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Help is still needed: where does the federal government fit in?
In light of news announced in yesterday's Boston Business Journal that Bill Gates, chairman and former CEO of Microsoft, is among the investors in Liquid Metal Battery Corp.'s $15 million Series B round, it seemed appropriate to discuss the May 22 Senate committee hearing on the American Energy Innovation Council's (AEIC's) report, "Catalyzing American Ingenuity: The Role of Government in Energy Innovation." You see, Gates is also a member of the informal AEIC group, and not afraid to put his money where his mouth is.
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EPRI's Robert Uluski puts the equation together
Marrying DMS with OMS is just the beginning. EPRI's Robert Uluski's conversation with Intelligent Utility magazine editor-in-chief Kate Rowland looks at future applications, as well.
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Industry group: monetize the balancing function
There's a natural tension between the innovations created by vendors and the constraints that bind their customers. Today we hand the floor to one element of the energy storage community: the Coalition to Advance Renewable Energy Through Bulk Storage or CAREBS.
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One advocate argues that economics will drive it
As more distributed resources connect to the grid, the more the grid itself will become a secondary feature, with generation and transmission serving as a backup system, argues one advocate of distributed generation. Economics and the American devotion to self-sufficiency will drive this trend, one that utilities can lead or trail. Some are, some aren't.
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New report cites factors due to technology, economics
The issue on the table is how to integrate variable resources with the power grid in the most efficient and reliable manner. What are the challenges, both technically and in terms of policy?
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GenerationHub.com, Energy Central's new online intelligence service for the electric power generation industry, is now live.
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National security depends on EE & RE, not drilling
Navy admiral discusses the connection between energy independence and national security, and the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy in achieving independence and security. This no-nonsense approach is saving lives in the field.
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Pathways to obsolescence, considered
The centralized power industry will be a largely irrelevant shadow of its former self within a generation, our soothsayer says. Utility culture and practices will run up against American ingenuity, technology and self-sufficiency and the latter will win, hands down. A prognosis for the future, from our columnist.
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Insights from the UAI Summit 2012
Christine Richards reveals key analytics findings, and analogies, from the first day of the Utility Analytics Institute Summit in Orlando, Florida.
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Utilities, vendors, enviros, consumer advocates weigh in
Implementing energy storage is fraught with complexities. While it has some clear-cut applications, some argue that alternatives for those applications are less costly. And implementing energy storage can have unintended consequences for the electricity market, possibly upending environmental goals. Should California establish procurement goals for utilities, given the uncertainties?
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"Single version of the truth" sought for uniform results
Big Data calls for an IT architecture that can store, manage and extract value from data streams on a scale not seen by utilities until now. Central governance is favored over separate silos. And in-house expertise in determining the business questions that guide data mining will likely be sought. Two utilites describe their approach in this column.
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Join an IOU, a muni and a co-op discussion
Customer engagement can take many different forms, depending on a utility's business model, geographic location, customer demographics and intended messaging. Join an Energy Central webcast with three utilities of different stripes on different missions to gain insight into their approaches and lessons learned.
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DistribuTech sessions, sliced and diced
DistribuTech sessions included a close-up look at the research questions involved in and the progress of energy storage projects and microgrids and the wider benefits of customer satisfaction in grid modernization.
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Top 25 intelligent utilities
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Early stakeholder involvement, transparency touted by readers
Our reader's forum this week drew comments from prominent advocates of grid modernization, who warned that utilities need to step up their game with stakeholders or face the consequences.
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Readers straighten us out on the real issues
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Technology solutions abound, it's the economics that are sticky for utilities and end-users. Our columnist casts his line with bold statements and readers take the bait.
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Utilities enter 'value phase' of grid modernization
Analyzing data is a standard practice. But the advent of 'Big Data' has pushed analytics to the fore because it offers business value and payback on smart grid investments. We offer insights and resources on how to think about this development.
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Study calls for industry-funded R&D
Public-private partnerships in research and development could meet many needs for innovation that could promote American energy and economic security. The issue will be debated in an election year. One study suggests a path.
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The "next big thing" is a misnomer; it's here
Vendors will tell you what they want you to hear on data analytics. We offer you your peers and their lessons learned.
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Remote microgrids grow for under-served end-users
Developments this past year have encouraged the development of microgrids, once considered by utilities to be a threat to operations, now considered a potential resource. An analyst describes the innovations, the drivers and the market.
