Hosting Capacity: A Tool for Modernizing the Grid

Abstract

The U.S. power grid is undergoing a transformation. Operational focus is shifting away from utilities with large centralized generators at the transmission level and moving toward individual customers who contribute generation from distributed energy resources (DERs) at the distribution level. Utility-scale renewable generation, meanwhile, continues to span across both transmission and distribution networks. The current interconnection process for small- to grid-scale DERs is well-defined, time-consuming and complex. It involves studying every DER application within a network model to identify its impacts on the network, both locally and systemwide. New technologies and applications are expanding the use cases for the capacity analysis approach, which is radically changing how interconnections are evaluated. Rather than focusing on individual DER connections, capacity analysis can allow you to study nearly every possible interconnection scenario. By identifying and understanding the ideal locations and usage times for DERs-and optimizing operating conditions-capacity analysis is making faster approvals and interconnections, as well as higher DER penetration, possible. This presentation will cover recent implementations of capacity analysis performed for Southern California Edison.