2.3 What Are the Issues on DER Technologies Affecting Regulations?
2.3.5 What Are DER Regulations in Different Jurisdictions?
European DER Grid Codes
Since Europe (3.5.1) has implemented far high numbers of DER systems, those countries were the first to recognize both the technical and the financial challenges of installing such high penetrations of DER systems. ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity), which is responsible for the overall security of the European grid, has taken the lead in addressing DER requirements. They have mandated increased “ride-through” voltage and frequency ranges to ensure that momentary spikes and sags do not cause DER systems to trip off unnecessarily. This requirement was recently extended requirements to upgrade additional DER systems that have already been installed.
Hawaii (3.5.3), because it consists of small islands in a location with lots of solar energy, has experienced high PV penetration. On the island of Oahu, many of HECO’s feeders have exceeded acceptable levels, which were initially set at 75% of daytime minimum load for projects under 10 kW. This level has since been raised to 120% of daytime minimum load, and HECO is studying the measures required to increase this level.
California New 50% Renewables Goal
California Governor Jerry Brown had called for 12,000 MW of “localized electricity generation”, or DER, to help the State procure 33 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2020, and has recently increased that goal to 50% by 2030.
California is expecting to extend the current goal of 33% renewables by 2020 to 50% renewables by 2030. PG&E’s Anthony Earley, president and CEO, and Kent Harvey, senior vice president, said that Pacific Gas and Electric is planning $5.5 billion in capital expenditures in 2015, including about $1.1 billion for electric transmission and around $2 billion for electric distribution .
Through updates to Rule 21, the California utilities are also requiring all new DER installations to include certain advanced DER functionalities and be capable of communications (see Section 3.5.2)
PG&E also announced recently that it will invest about $100 million per year for five years in electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, with the goal of supporting the expected 1.5 million EVs by 2025 (see 3.3.6). If approved, PG&E customers would share the costs, with residential customers expected to pay about 70 cents more per month from 2018 to 2022.
Electric Light & Power interview: http://www.elp.com/articles/2015/02/pg-e-invests-in-power-grid-that-flows-in-multiple-directions.html?cmpid=Enl_ELP_Feb-13-2015