Julieta Giraldez

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and
Kevala Inc. (Kevala), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted this study to help
answer key technical and deployment questions about whether the electric grid can accommodate new
demands from transportation electrification. This study illuminates, at unprecedented local resolution,
the charging network and associated distribution grid infrastructure needed to… Show more

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and
Kevala Inc. (Kevala), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted this study to help
answer key technical and deployment questions about whether the electric grid can accommodate new
demands from transportation electrification. This study illuminates, at unprecedented local resolution,
the charging network and associated distribution grid infrastructure needed to support increasing plugin electric vehicle (PEV) adoption. In particular, the study examines the anticipated impact of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) rulemakings if finalized as proposed on greenhouse gas
(GHG) emission standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty on-road vehicles (LDVs, MDVs, and HDVs,
respectively).
1,2 This study provides in-depth analysis of PEV charging infrastructure and distribution grid
upgrades for five states: California, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, which are indicative
of a variety of U.S. transportation demand and utility distribution infrastructure. Show less

The Electrification Impacts Study Part 1 (Part 1 Study) was prepared for review within the High DER Proceeding as a first step towards examining the potential impacts of high adoptions of DERs on the distribution grid, identifying where and when enhancements and investments could be needed, and estimating the potential costs of meeting these needs.
The Part 1 Study presents a granular bottom-up load forecasting methodology that provides locational and temporal information on where and when… Show more

The Electrification Impacts Study Part 1 (Part 1 Study) was prepared for review within the High DER Proceeding as a first step towards examining the potential impacts of high adoptions of DERs on the distribution grid, identifying where and when enhancements and investments could be needed, and estimating the potential costs of meeting these needs.
The Part 1 Study presents a granular bottom-up load forecasting methodology that provides locational and temporal information on where and when distribution grid enhancements may be needed. Part 1 study also estimates potential system level costs under an unmitigated scenario. Show less

The analysis in this report identifies overarching, structural considerations of the DIDF to enhance distribution grid planning in a way that addresses the overall value proposition of DERs as an alternative to infrastructure capital investments.

Distribution system planning (DSP) is experiencing monumental shifts in consumer needs and expectations. Opening DSP to stakeholders is a challenging but critical endeavor, and innovative solutions are needed for utilities to effectively communicate the costs and risks of planning decisions and facilitate meaningful stakeholder engagements and education around DSP. This white paper is the culmination of interviews with utility representatives coordinated over 5 months by the National Renewable… Show more

Distribution system planning (DSP) is experiencing monumental shifts in consumer needs and expectations. Opening DSP to stakeholders is a challenging but critical endeavor, and innovative solutions are needed for utilities to effectively communicate the costs and risks of planning decisions and facilitate meaningful stakeholder engagements and education around DSP. This white paper is the culmination of interviews with utility representatives coordinated over 5 months by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Kevala, Inc. (Kevala) to better understand the current state, challenges, and opportunities in distribution capacity planning. Show less

Driving through many neighborhoods of Hawai'i, it is hard to miss the nearly ubiquitous rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that have popped up during the past eight years or so. Relatively high electricity costs associated with island grids, coupled with various incentives, have made it cost-effective to install solar over the last eight years, as evidenced by the PV-deployment chart in Figure 1. On the most populous island, O'ahu, the PV nameplate acgenerating capacity of 502 MW totals… Show more

Driving through many neighborhoods of Hawai'i, it is hard to miss the nearly ubiquitous rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that have popped up during the past eight years or so. Relatively high electricity costs associated with island grids, coupled with various incentives, have made it cost-effective to install solar over the last eight years, as evidenced by the PV-deployment chart in Figure 1. On the most populous island, O'ahu, the PV nameplate acgenerating capacity of 502 MW totals nearly half of the annual peak load for the entire island, which is 1.1 GW . Of that 502 MW of PVs, 54% is from private rooftop solar-nearly 50,000 residences or roughly one of every three single family homes. But Hawaiian Electric, the local utility, has no way to monitor or control the PV generation, even for most nonresidential systems. This means that on sunny days, up to approximately half of the PV generation is outside of the utility's control. This poses many challenges for utility planners and operators-challenges that Hawaiian Electric has been working diligently to address, along with various partners, notably the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and its Energy System's Integration Facility (ESIF). This article describes how Hawaiian Electric has worked with engineers in NREL's Power Systems Engineering Center to improve the way its grid operates with very high levels of distributed PVs, largely by changing the way the PV inverters are operated. Show less