Energy Management and Grid Support Applications
At their most basic, distributed energy resources can be used independently of the electric power system to provide backup power in the event of an outage. At the next level, interconnection technologies and policies can allow distributed energy producers to sell excess energy back to utilities and the grid. But in complex scenarios, distributed energy resources have the potential to contribute an array of beneficial services to the grid.
When effectively integrated into an electric power system, distributed power systems can be used to provide high-value energy, capacity, and ancillary services such as voltage regulation, power quality improvement, and system-wide emergency power. In such scenarios, distributed energy resources can not only supplement but also strengthen the entire electric power system.
NREL's energy management and grid support activities investigate technologies and methods that enable distributed energy resources to make full-value contributions to the electric grid.
