N-1Distributed Energy Resource Integration Roadmap Cover Letter and Attachments
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Distributed Energy Resource Roadmap The DERIR was prepared by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors (Dunsky). Dunsky was commissioned by NS Power to support the DERIR by drawing on jurisdictional research, stakeholder perspectives, and professi...
AI summary The Distributed Energy Resource Integration Roadmap (DERIR) was developed by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors for NS Power, informed by stakeholder input and past DER integration efforts. It outlines twelve strategies and twenty-eight initiatives to enable DER integration in Nova Scotia. The DERIR is a shared strategic framework, not owned by any single entity, and will be discussed with stakeholders and updated for the NSEB.
Executive Summary Nova Scotia's electricity system is entering a period of significant transformation. Growing electricity demand, increasing adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs), and progressively ambitious decarbonization obje...
AI summary Nova Scotia's electricity system is undergoing transformation due to rising demand, increased DER adoption, and decarbonization goals. The Energy Reform Act has created new governance structures, including the NS Energy Board and IESO Nova Scotia. NS Power and Efficiency One have distinct roles, and coordination is essential as DERs grow. A DERIR has been commissioned to guide integration of DERs while supporting clean energy objectives.
DER INTEGRATION ROADMAP Six core principles guided the DERIR development : DER integration should be beneficial, affordable, reliable, equitable, adaptable, and collaborative. Together, these principles support a vision in which DERs contr...
AI summary The DER Integration Roadmap outlines six core principles guiding the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in Nova Scotia: beneficial, affordable, reliable, equitable, adaptable, and collaborative. These principles support a vision of a more affordable, reliable, and cleaner electricity system for all Nova Scotians. The roadmap serves as a strategic planning framework with three interconnected pillars.
Pillar 2: Enabling DER Participation This pillar focuses on creating the conditions that allow customers and third parties to adopt and participate in DER programs. Priorities include customer engagement, equity considerations, enabling te...
AI summary Pillar 2 focuses on enabling distributed energy resource (DER) participation by creating conditions for customer and third-party engagement, addressing equity, enabling technologies, demand response, time-varying rates, and future DER compensation and procurement frameworks.
Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) Advanced Metering infrastructure (AMI) Behind the Meter (BTM) Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) Distributed Energy Resources Integrat...
AI summary The text lists various terms and acronyms related to energy management, grid technologies, and regulatory frameworks in Nova Scotia, including advanced metering, distribution systems, and demand-side management initiatives.
State of Play in Nova Scotia In Nova Scotia, DER adoption and electrification has increased. From 2019 to 2024, EV vehicle registrations have increased significantly from 160 annual registrations in 2019 to over 2,800 in 202[4](#page-14-0)...
AI summary Nova Scotia has seen significant growth in DER adoption and electrification, with EV registrations increasing from 160 in 2019 to over 2,800 in 2024, and net-metering interconnections tripling. Heat pump installations are also growing, with the 2026 Load Forecast Report projecting that 50% of homes will use heat pumps for heating by 2026. This growth is expected to increase system peak demand by 28% between 2024 and 2035, necessitating proactive planning.
Guiding Principles The goal of the DERIR is to provide a path that unlocks both grid and customer benefits from DERs, to support a more affordable, reliable, and clean electricity system for Nova Scotia. The following principles will guide...
AI summary The DERIR aims to integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) in a way that delivers grid and customer benefits, ensuring affordability, reliability, equity, adaptability, and collaboration with stakeholders like E1 and IESO-NS.
TABLE 1: DERIR PILLAR, STRATEGY, AND INITIATIVE PRIORITIZATION PILLAR 1: PLANNING FOR DERS STRATEGY INITIATIVE PRIORITY 1.1 Stakeholder 1.1.1 Governance Model FOUNDATIONAL Coordination 1.1.2 Stakeholder Coordination Framework FOUNDATIONAL...
AI summary The table outlines the DERIR (Distributed Energy Resources Integration Roadmap) pillars, strategies, and initiatives for integrating DERS (Distributed Energy Resources) in Nova Scotia. It emphasizes foundational and evolving strategies across planning, enabling, and integrating pillars, including governance, customer engagement, DER valuation, and grid modernization.
TABLE 2: DERIR GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND HOW THE ROADMAP ALIGNS WITH THEM DERIR Guiding Principles How The Roadmap Aims to Align with the Guiding Principles Beneficial The DERIR identifies actions with potential to unlock system, customer, an...
AI summary The DERIR guiding principles focus on ensuring that DER integration is beneficial, affordable, reliable, equitable, adaptable, and collaborative. The roadmap outlines initiatives aimed at aligning with these principles, including DER valuation tools, integrated planning, equity frameworks, and stakeholder engagement.
Overview Customer engagement is key to building awareness and trust, developing DER programs which reflect Nova Scotians' needs and enabling broad participation. Simplicity and accessibility are also critical. If customers struggle to unde...
AI summary Customer engagement is crucial for developing effective DER programs that meet Nova Scotians' needs and ensure broad participation. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of equity, clear parameters, and coordinated messaging to avoid confusion and improve program outcomes. There were calls for more targeted approaches and stronger education to address barriers and increase participation, especially among small businesses.
Overview There are multiple ways to enable customer DER adoption and participation. Some are better suited to specific DER technologies or customer use cases, and in many cases the most effective approach is a combination of mechanisms. Ju...
AI summary The document emphasizes the need for coordinated strategies to enable customer adoption of DER technologies, highlighting affordability, funding, and cost allocation as key considerations. Stakeholders stress the importance of aligned branding, messaging, and backend coordination between NS Power and E1 to avoid conflicting programs and ensure a seamless customer experience. Suggestions include using pilot programs, adopting common evaluation models, and aligning incentive structures with grid needs.
Qualitative Assessment of Demand Response Programs Criteria Assessment Rationale Strategic Fit ●●● HIGH DR programs are aligned with broader grid modernization and electrification objectives and allow Nova Scotia to build on existing knowl...
AI summary The qualitative assessment highlights that demand response (DR) programs in Nova Scotia are strategically aligned with grid modernization and electrification goals. They provide benefits such as peak shaving and emission reductions, but their success depends on customer participation and DERMS integration. While DR programs are cost-favorable and require limited infrastructure investment, risks include underperformance and loss of stakeholder confidence if not properly managed.
Overview This strategy aims to assess how alternative procurement pathways may complement customer programs to accelerate DER uptake in Nova Scotia, help reduce the cost of resource acquisition, promote operational efficiency, and foster c...
AI summary The strategy discusses alternative procurement pathways for DERs in Nova Scotia, comparing centralized procurement and utility ownership models. Stakeholders expressed concerns about transparency, the necessity of centralized models, and the alignment of utility ownership with provincial goals for competition and innovation.
We assessed value qualitatively from three perspectives: electricity system, customer and society. Criteria Description System Capital Deferral Potential to defer or avoid distribution/transmission capital investments. System Reliability &...
AI summary The value of initiatives is assessed from three perspectives: electricity system, customer, and society. Criteria include system capital deferral, reliability, operational benefits, customer monetary and non-energy benefits, and societal value.
Key Trends and Drivers for Action Demand Growth Increased heating, transport, and industry electrification is driving significant demand growth requiring innovative solutions to maintain grid affordability and reliability Evolving Distribu...
AI summary Increased demand from heating, transport, and industry electrification is driving grid demand growth. DER penetration is creating a more distributed and dynamic grid, but many DERs remain unoptimized. Decarbonization targets are driving investments in clean energy, efficiency, and DERs. Nova Scotia Power is experiencing these trends and needs a strategic approach to DER integration.
Enabling - Limited customer awareness or understanding of DERs and programs - Existing compensation mechanisms may not align with the full value that DERs provide across generation and T&D systems - Limited coordination between stakeholder...
AI summary The text highlights challenges in enabling distributed energy resources (DERs), including limited customer awareness, misaligned incentives, regulatory uncertainty, and lack of coordination in integration and deployment. It also emphasizes the need for better data sharing, interoperability, and standardized protocols to optimize DER dispatch and mitigate system impacts.
Enabling Strategies - Rates: Time-varying rates such as time of use and critical peak pricing (sometimes specific to equipment like EV specific TOU rate), and net-metering for distributed solar - Programs: Demand response programs such as...
AI summary The document outlines enabling strategies for integrating distributed energy resources (DER) into the grid, including time-varying rates, demand response programs, competitive procurement processes, utility-owned DERs, and value-based compensation mechanisms for DERs.
Enabling Strategies - Rates: Time of day rate with an off-peak, mid-peak, and on-peak rate; net-metering for solar - Programs: Peak time rebate program is a behavioural DR program with an award of $1/kWh reduced; direct load control (DLC)...
AI summary The text outlines enabling strategies related to energy management, including time-of-day rates, peak time rebate programs, direct load control, and procurement of distributed solar with storage. It also discusses co-deployment efforts between PGE and Energy Trust Oregon to serve high energy burdened customers.
Jurisdiction Utility DSM Administrator Roles and Responsibilities Nova Scotia The DERIR will clarify NSPI and E1's roles. Preliminary roles/responsibilities from SGNS: • NSPI: Procure DERMs, define program parameters, and call DR events •...
AI summary The document outlines the roles and responsibilities of various entities in different jurisdictions regarding distributed energy resources (DER). It highlights the division of tasks between utilities, DSM administrators, and other organizations in Nova Scotia, Vermont, Oregon, and Manitoba.