The DER Integration & Compensation Resource Library was last updated on 10/07/2026.
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54 resources found:
This report provides an introduction to Aggregated DERs (ADERs), also known as Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), for commissioners and staff at state public utilities commissions and state energy offices.
The report is structured in four sections, providing a brief introduction and responses to fundamental questions on each:
The report provides a comprehensive introduction to ADERs, and provides case studies and references to further reading.
Provides an international overivew of aggregators (as a business model). The brief includes the contribution ADERs bring to the to power sector transformation, keyy factors to enable deployment, and the current status and examples of ongoing initiatives.
This study explores a variety of approaches for DER interconnection cost allocation (who pays costs and how) and cost allocation and recovery frameworks (detailed processes to implement a cost allocation approach, including interconnection studies and cost recovery practices).
This paper discusses DER adoption in the US, the grid service potential of aggregated DER portfolios, the goal of FERC Order 2222, and some of the barriers for aggregated DER wholesale market participation created by current market operator compliance plans. The report then provides commentary on alternative grid participation methods for aggregated DER and recommendations for key stakeholders moving forward.
Reference this article for reflections on the report:
https://energychangemakers.com/aggregated-ders-ferc-order-2222/
Presentation on the grid services of wind in the U.S. detailing the grid services that wind can provide, technically, and the market rules, economic considerations, and other constraints that currently limit it.
This report reviews how Ontario’s DER compensation mechanisms work together to drive the efficient adoption and management of DERs.
Three case stuides on BCA frameworks in action.
This resource details different bulk power, distribution system, and grid edge services. It includes the definition of each, specific performance attributes, and key resources for each service. Readers can use this resource as a reference guide to quickly understand the different services.
This paper considers the types of values (or “value streams”) that combinations of distributed energy resources can create, examines three “use cases,” and explores a path for capturing more of the full value of these combinations.
This paper establishes the analytical basis for local distribution value, examines the program design choices that determine whether it is captured, and proposes a compensation framework that supports a robust and cost-effective DER market
Defines structural participation models for how DERs participate/could participate in wholesale markets (actors, functions, processes). Challenges with common structure include interconnection procedures, DER aggregation review, outage communication, and ISO dispatch overrides.
This resource provides an overview of methods and practices used to define the value of demand flexibility from DERs in grid-interactive efficient buildings. The report focusses on the value of demand flexibility to the utility system, and does not account for wider customer or societal benefits.
The report suggests how current methods and practices can be enhanced in demand response valuation, and is aimed at state and local policymakers, public utility commissions, state energy offices, and state utility consumer advocates.
This report defines grid digitalization, provides concrete examples, and assesses five elements of digital systems: network interconnection, interoperability, modularity, open source, and automation. This report also discusses the benefits and challenges of digitalization and provides a set of actions regulators can take to support and realize the benefits of the transition.
This white paper is a collaboration between SEPA and Sparkfund and aims to:
A policy playbook for bringing critical technology resources to scale across the U.S.
This roadmap serves as a guide to key actions that the interconnection community can take within the next 5 years and beyond to implement solutions designed to address current DER interconnection challenges.
This report outlines an illustrative DER Integration Framework to support utilities and regulators as they evaluate opportunities to encourage the provision of valuable grid services from DERs and equitably allocate DER costs to promote the efficient use of distribution capacity and interconnection resources.
This document was prepared to provide state energy decision makers such as Public Utility Commissions and State Energy Offices with a summary of state actions, considerations, and enabling policies related to Order 2222 implementation.
This report provides a framework for how the energy system is changing over time, with reference to stages of DER integreation, compensation, coordination and grid service delivery.
This report explores the technical and economic feasibility for DERs to provide bulk power system grid services, particularly in RTOs/ISOs. The researchers used advanced simulation tools to model and test various scenarios, including varying the resource mix, aggregated DER configuriations, elgibility criteria for ancillary services, and more. Section 4 of the report details the results of the study, including the potential value that aggregated DERs can bring to system operations.
This encyclopedia is intended to be a guide for utilities, and their customer service, planning, operations, and/or energy supply departments, looking to implement a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS).
This paper aims to inform regulatory decision-making processes by presenting emerging flexible connection strategies and case examples. Additionally, this paper provides a strategic framework for managing distribution networks to enhance DER integration and electrification, ultimately moving towards a more complete orchestration of DER and EV charging.
This report examines why demand response participation remains limited in wholesale markets and proposes actionable solutions to unlock its full potential. The analysis draws from extensive interviews with industry stakeholders, including system operators, regulators, aggregators, and consumers, to (1) identify five critical gaps that must be bridged to accelerate demand response deployment, and (2) offer targeted solutions to address each gap.
This report describes the declining reliability of gas peakers, and the ability for DERs to both add to reliability today, and be an enduring reliability solution.
This report identifies the needs and opportunities for grid planning for building electrification, with a particular emphasis on distribution systems.
This presenation addresses the folowing three questions:
1. Does adding storage to rooftop solar add value to the power system?
2. What are important consideration when assessing that value?
3. What are emerging practices for leverging consumer adoption of storage?
The paper explore the value opportunities and limitations of tools like hosting capacity analysis and locational value assessment.
This one-stop shop provides readers with publications, tools & data, and recorded webinars on integrated distribution system planning (IDSP) from Berkeley Lab. The landing page provides an interactive decision framework of the different components of IDSP. Readers can navigate to additional resources based on their state context and interests.
This accessible slide deck provides an overview of Integrated Distribution System Planning (IDSP), including visual diagrams that define and describe IDSP, key pillars for implementation, and an emerging example. Readers can use this resource to get familiar with the fundamentals of IDSP and understand a few key ingredients for getting closer to IDSP.
This white paper outlines the tools needed and steps that should be taken by policymakers, utilities, and industry stakeholders to plan for the future electric grid and to enable the transition to occur as rapidly and seamlessly as possible.
Key recommendations from non-US contexts
This report focuses on potential DER benefits for distribution systems, primarily in their role as non-wires alternatives to defer, mitigate, or eliminate the need for some traditional system investments at locations where distribution capacity is insufficient to meet expected future needs. It describes approaches and tools to estimate the locational value of DERs. The report includes 24 case studies to illustrate how states and utilities are considering the locational value of DERs.
This resource is a tool designed to support the quantification of DER impacts. It is a companion document to the National Standard Practice Manual (NSPM).
The NSPM defines which benefits and costs to include in DER assessment; this resource, the Methods, Tools & Resources Handbook, establishes how to calculate the values of DER costs and benefits.
The manual describes different rate design and compensation options that reuglators could consider for DERs, including pros and cons to each, and some pratical ways to use this manual.
This webinar summarizes the fundamentals for aggregated DER compensation through prices and programs.
This resource is a NARUC-NASEO webinar to inform key state decisionmakers as they evaluate costs, benefits, and risks of advancing various grid modernization strategies and transmission-distribution coordination.
This manual provides a framework for cost-effectiveness assessment of DERs. It supports single- and multi-DER benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for: energy efficiency (EE), demand response (DR), distributed generation (DG), distributed storage (DS), and (building and vehicle) electrification. It is intended for use by jurisdictions to help inform which resources to acquire to meet their specific policy goals and objectives.
A comprehensive, yet simple description of resource plans and their key components. It includes direct questions that policymakers and advocates can ask utilities during the planning process.
This resource describes 10 leading case studies of non-wires alternatives in practice in the US. The case studies include key attributes of the project, which technologies were utilized, and key drivers and challenges. Readers will also find insights from across all the case studies and policy review of the state of NWAs.
Report out from a workshop that explored issues of utility, developer and end-user challenges to interconnecting energy sotrage & identify gaps for supporting greater integration of storage for the "value stack").
Comprehensive descrtiption and explanation of the benefits of VPPs. Specific discussion on the abiltiy of VPPs to meet challenges presented by increasing load growth.
This paper outlines a potential set of common principles for quantifying demand flexibility and considers different methods and when these might be appropriate. The baseline methodologies it covers include:
Quantitative report on the value of VPPs. Conclusions that VPPs can be as reliable as traditional generation; VPPs are 40-60% the cost of traditional alternatives; VPPs are the only resource that provides resource adequacy at net negtive cost.
This paper establishes a standard distribution services contract (DSC) between an electric distribution utility and an aggregator. It establishes consistent terms for the provision of services, and addresses required market and operational coordination requirements from FERC Order 2222 implementation.
This report details grid service definitions relevant to grid-related interactions with DERs. It reviews current grid service definitions and ones proposed for future implementation in both transmission and distribution systems.
This paper outlines the role of DSO models and the technologies’ foundational requirements. It details the primary considerations for enabling policy and regulatory support for DSOs, describes how different DER participation models interact with the DSO, provides brief case studies of emerging DSO models in several countries, and offers key takeaways for utilities, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Proposal for a national initiative with an initial focus on technical foundations and developing a common vocabulary, framework, and vision, a subsequent focus on least-regrets strategies, and a final focus on initiating structured dialogue to address issues that will require more time to resolve.
This report considers the time and value of energy efficiency to the energy grid: Time-Sensitive Value (TSV).
Energy efficiency values vary over the course of a year based on the costs of generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity. To procure the optimal amount of energy efficiency, the TSV of energy efficiency must be considered. This report discusses five use cases where TSV energy efficiency can be considered: (1) energy efficiency program planning and evaluation, (2) distribution system planning, (3) electricity resource planning (4) electricity rate design, and (5) state and local government activities
The purpose of this paper is to foster a discussion among regulators, transmission system operators (TSOs), distribution system operators (DSOs), DER Aggregators, and other stakeholders on the business requirements market and operational coordination—specifically, the requirements to enable the reliable and efficient use of DER services for both the bulk power system and distribution grid operations.
VDER or the Value Stack, is New York's mechanism to compensate energy generated by distributed energy resources (DER), such as solar PV. The Value Stack compensates projects based on when and where they provide electricity to the grid.
The paper provides background on how VPPs (existing and proposed) relate to VPP adoption in underserved communities. It provides context on how programs that prioritize Environmental Justice [EJ] goals have been designed, and it suggests how future programs can be more supportive of EJ goals.
The insights presented in the Virtual Power Plants, Real Benefits brief provide an overview of how VPPs are already providing impact, the potential future impact of VPPs, and the barriers that must be overcome to scale a vibrant VPP market. This report is designed for a wide range of power grid stakeholders including policymakers, energy consumers, grid planners, and the general public.
This report describes the characteristics and value proposition of VPPs. It highlights cases studies of VPPs, describes the challenges of competition within the current utility business model paradigm, and offers considerations for PUCs on VPPs.
Policy principles to help energy regulators and policymakers leverage virtual power plants (VPPs) to promote affordability and reliability. A consensus document developed by RMI and the ~20 VPP technology and solution providers in RMI's Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3).
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