Distributed Generation Workgroup

Status Report

October 26, 1998 - Fort Collins, Colorado

Status: Review Draft for Distribution - Due November 20

• Executive Summary
• Condensed Report
• Technical Appendices
  • Interconnection and Case Study
  • Distributed Benefits and Technical Opportunities
  • Cost Characterization
  • Socioeconomic and Market Infrastructure (may slip to December 4)
  • Local Economic and Social Impacts (may slip to December 4)
• Review Meeting - December 4, Denver

Discussion Item: What is the Procedure for Review, Feedback, and Acceptance?

Key Preliminary Findings

• Grid Characteristics Are Critical for Siting
  • Predominance Of Single Phase
  • Substation/Transformer Capacity
  • Power Quality Issues
  • Distribution System Capacity Limits - Reinforcement Commonly Needed
  • Case Study To Provide Quantitative Insights
• Distributed Benefits Are Not Evaluated in Europe
• U.S. Case Studies Show Wide Range of Benefits Depending On
  • Correlation Between Wind And Loads
  • Loading of Distribution Facilities
  • Energy Costs and Demand Charges
• But U.S. Challenge is to Identify And Accrue Distributed Benefits
• Cost Characterization
  • European Cost Sensitivities Difficult to Define - But Range Can Be Identified
  • U.S. Geography And Current Infrastructure Is A Disadvantage For O&M Costs
  • U.S. Cost Data Is Sparse And Sets Upper Bound
• Many Key Developments Incentivised Danish Market
  • Size and stability of financial incentives
  • Restriction of ownership to local participation
  • Development of distributed ownership model
  • Limitation of investment share size
  • Organization of owners and manufacturers
  • Public reporting of cost, performance, and reliability data
  • Requiring utilities to accept interconnection with "fair" conditions
  • Spreading costs for distribution system reinforcement
• Local Economic and Social Issues
  • Ownership/Sharing of Benefits Is Key to Acceptance
  • Local Pride and Identity Is Secondary To Financial Return
  • Local Economic Benefits Are Quantifiable Within A Range - Jobs + Secondary Multiplier
• Key Limiting Differences Between Europe and U.S.
  • European models focused on ownership -- not "distributed"
  • Applicability of European model to competitive market is limited
  • U.S. political and social traditions and systems limit applicability

Questions to be Answered in Report
Posted 11/5/98 - PDF 12K