Behind the Meter: Implementing Distributed Energy Technologies to Balance Energy Load in Virginia

One of the principal challenges associated with decarbonization is the temporal variability of renewable energy generation, which is creating the need to better balance load on the grid by shaving peak demand. We analyzed how innovative load-shifting technologies can be used by large institutions like the University of Virginia to shift load and support statewide efforts to decarbonize. To do this, we focused on the University's plans for expansion of the Fontaine Research Park, which is a good model for understanding how these technologies could distribute energy load behind the meter. First, we worked to develop a predictive model to forecast when peak demands will occur and understand how interventions, including heat recovery chillers and thermal storage tanks, might be used to balance load. Then, we extended a statewide energy systems model using the Tools for Energy Modeling Optimization and Analysis (TEMOA) to simulate the ways in which these types of interventions might be scaled to the whole state. Using the energy demand model in conjunction with aggregated institutional energy use data, the team evaluated the effects that broader adoption of distributed energy technologies in Virginia could have on the grid's ability to handle the energy transition. Our study showed implementing distributed energy sources on a state-scale had insignificant effect on balancing load. However, on a microgrid scale, such technologies prove to be a useful resource to decrease peak demand which would allow for further clean energy projects and possible cost reductions.