Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI) focuses on integrating renewable energy, distributed generation, energy storage, thermally activated technologies, and demand response into the electric distribution and transmission system. This integration is aimed toward managing peak loads, offering new value-added services such as differentiated power quality to meet individual user needs, and enhancing asset use. The program goal is to demonstrate a 20% reduction in peak load demand by 2015, through increased use of both utility- and customer-owned assets.

A systems approach will be used to conduct integration development and demonstrations to address technical, economic, regulatory, and institutional barriers for using renewable and distributed systems. In addition to fully addressing operational issues, the integration will also establish viable business models needed to incorporate these technologies into capacity planning and demand-side management.

Through the RDSI development, advances in system design, planning, and operation of the electric grid can be accomplished to:

• reduce carbon emissions and emissions of other air pollutants through increased use of renewable energy and other clean distributed generation
• increase asset use through integration of distributed systems and customer loads to reduce peak load and thus price volatility
• support achievement of renewable portfolio standards for renewable energy and energy efficiency
• enhance reliability, security, and resiliency from microgrid applications in critical infrastructure protection, constrained areas of the electric grid, etc.
• improve system efficiency with on-site, distributed generation and improved economic efficiency through demand-side management
• support energy diversity by enabling plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) operations with the grid

An important recent effort is funding the work of the Western Governors Association (WGA) on renewable energy grid integration.  WGA’s Western Renewable Energy Zones project is identifying both renewables suitable for grouping into large zones as well as other renewable resources throughout the west. After identifying these zones through a stakeholder process, they will then coordinate electricity procurement to those zones and areas so as to allow new transmission projects to develop that can bring these resources to load centers. The final step will be the facilitation of siting and cost allocation discussions among States for these new transmission projects.

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