IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 29

The targeted siting of future installations could potentially
be influenced through a variety of mechanisms that leverage
rates, grid interconnection processes, enhanced information
systems, and/or distribution system upgrades. Examples include
interconnection process improvements, locational incentives or
interconnection costs, and holistic distribution upgrades. Strategies vary in effectiveness and ease of implementation; many of
these solutions require that challenges due to regulatory constraints, concerns about customer equity, and trade-offs between
DER and non-DER customers be overcome.
There are a number of industry activities under way that
are attempting to develop and/or implement a broader, more
proactive planning approach at both the regulatory and utility levels. They include:
✔✔ California Public Utilities Commission's distribution
resource plans: In August 2014, the California Public
Utilities Commission opened a rulemaking that seeks to
establish policies and procedures for developing investor-owned utility distribution resource plans in the state
that integrate DERs into long-range grid plans by considering a range of locational values, including energy,
capacity, power quality, reliability, and resiliency.
✔✔ Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA's) Distributed
Generation Integrated Value (DG-IV) initiative: In
2014, TVA launched a process to develop a methodology
to adequately gauge the value DG provides to the electric grid. The goal of this effort is to develop a method
that takes into account locational impact and cost.
✔✔ EPRI's Integrated Grid framework: The Integrated Grid framework recently developed by EPRI
is intended to provide a more comprehensive understanding of DERs impacts to present a more nuanced
range of cost-effective integration strategies to utilities and grid operators.

Moving Forward
The electric power system is evolving from large, central
generating stations interconnected with customers through
grids of transmission and distribution lines into a system
that includes substantial DERs. Consumers of all sizes are
installing DERs with technical and economic attributes that
differ radically from the central energy resources that have
traditionally dominated the electric power system. In many
settings, DER installations have already had a sizable impact
on the operation of the electricity grid.
If utilities had the luxury of investing in all the power delivery capacity they needed to support whatever might be connected to the distribution system, planning would be simply a
matter of constructing new wire-delivery facilities as needed.
But they do not, and utility engineers increasingly find their systems stretched to the limits. Control and planning must be done
with ever greater accuracy for utilities to operate successfully.
New engineering graduates will require training to analyze
the integrated distribution grid, in which power flows in multiple directions and can change quickly. For example, most power
march/april 2015

engineering curricula today teach how to perform a static power
flow analysis with simple load and generator models, but such
deterministic approaches are no longer sufficient. Engineers
must also learn how to capture the dynamic nature of a system
that contains rapidly varying DERs and identify the time-dependent benefits and costs of DERs as well as its location-specific
impacts as derived from traditional static methods. This will
require a collaborative effort on the part of utility, research, and
academic organizations to determine the new curricula.
Planners have to take into account how DER devices
behave as well as the complexity of the distribution system.
This will require new capabilities in planning tools and new
approaches to distribution planning. It will not be easy to
make the transition in one leap: with a massive investment in
models and data, existing tools will slowly evolve from their
present state toward a new paradigm.
A planning approach for the electric grid that is integrated overall will fully realize the value of DERs while
cost-effectively serving all customers at established standards of quality and reliability. Such a holistic approach to
distribution planning is one of the core components in what
EPRI refers to as an integrated grid.

For Further Reading
"The integrated grid, phase II: A framework," EPRI, Palo
Alto, CA, 2015.
"Distribution feeder hosting capacity: What matters most
in planning for DER?" EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, Tech. Rep.
3002004777, 2015.
"A new method for characterizing distribution system
hosting capacity for DER: A streamlined approach for PV,"
EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, Tech. Rep. 3002003278, 2014.
Streamlined Methods for Determining Feeder Hosting
Capacity for PV. Palo Alto, CA: EPRI, 2014.
"Distributed photovoltaic feeder analysis: Preliminary
findings from hosting capacity analysis of 18 distribution
feeders," EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, Tech. Rep. 3002001245, 2013.
"Analysis of high-penetration solar PV impacts for distribution planning: Stochastic and time-series methods for determining feeder hosting capacity," EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, Tech. Rep.
1026640, 2012.
S. K. Price and R. C. Dugan, "Including distributed resources in distribution planning," in Proc. IEEE Power Systems Conf. Expo., PES 2005, New York, NY, Oct. 2004.

Biographies
Jeff Smith is with the Electric Power Research Institute,
Knoxville, Tennessee.
Matthew Rylander is with the Electric Power Research
Institute, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Lindsey Rogers is with the Electric Power Research Institute, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Roger Dugan is with the Electric Power Research Institute, Knoxville, Tennessee.
p&e

ieee power & energy magazine

29



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015

IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover1
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover2
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 1
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 2
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 3
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 4
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 5
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 6
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 7
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 8
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 9
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 10
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 11
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 12
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 13
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 14
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 15
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 16
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 17
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 18
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 19
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 20
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 21
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 22
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 23
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 24
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 25
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 26
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 27
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 28
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 29
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 30
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 31
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 32
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 33
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 34
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 35
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 36
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 37
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 38
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 39
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 40
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 41
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 42
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 43
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 44
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 45
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 46
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 47
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 48
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 49
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 50
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 51
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 52
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 53
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 54
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 55
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 56
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 57
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 58
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 59
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 60
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 61
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 62
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 63
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 64
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 65
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 66
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 67
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 68
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 69
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 70
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 71
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 72
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 73
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 74
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 75
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 76
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 77
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 78
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 79
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 80
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 81
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 82
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 83
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 84
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 85
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 86
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 87
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 88
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 89
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 90
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 91
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 92
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 93
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 94
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 95
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 96
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover3
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/powerenergy_010216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010214
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com