N-1Distributed Energy Resource Integration Roadmap Cover Letter and Attachments
37 passages
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.
Distributed Energy Resources Integration Roadmap (DERIR) A Roadmap for Successful DER Integration in Nova Scotia JUNE 2026
AI summary The Distributed Energy Resources Integration Roadmap (DERIR) outlines a strategic plan for integrating distributed energy resources into Nova Scotia's energy system, aiming to enhance grid reliability and support clean energy goals.
Nova Scotia Power Robert Boone Manager, Grid Modernization [www.nspower.ca](http://www.nspower.ca/) Dunsky Project Number: 25060
AI summary Nova Scotia Power's Grid Modernization Manager, Robert Boone, is associated with Project Number 25060 under Dunsky. The text provides minimal context about the project or its implications.
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.
Pillar 1: Planning for DERs This pillar focuses on establishing the foundations required for effective DER integration. Key priorities include strengthening governance and stakeholder coordination, building institutional capacity, developi...
AI summary This section outlines the priorities for Pillar 1, which focuses on planning for DERs. It emphasizes the need to strengthen governance, improve forecasting, develop valuation frameworks, and identify future regulatory needs to enable effective DER integration.
Pillar 3: Integrating DERs This pillar focuses on the systems, processes, and grid investments required to manage increasing DER penetration. Priorities include DER management systems (DERMS), improved DER visibility and data management, m...
AI summary Pillar 3 of the DERIR focuses on systems, processes, and grid investments needed to manage increasing DER penetration. It highlights priorities such as DER management systems, data management, interconnection process modernization, and grid modernization. The roadmap includes 12 strategies and 28 initiatives, some of which are already underway, while others require future planning and investment.
LOOKING AHEAD The DERIR represents an important first step. Implementation will require sustained commitment, collaboration, and clear accountability. Regulatory clarity and direction regarding leadership roles, responsibilities, and decis...
AI summary The DERIR is a significant initiative requiring commitment and collaboration. Regulatory clarity and stakeholder engagement are essential to ensure the roadmap reflects technological and market changes and meets customer needs.
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.
Why DERs? Nova Scotia's electricity system is facing an evolving energy landscape shaped by three key trends: Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are recognized as key enablers of decarbonization goals, system flexibility, and load managem...
AI summary Nova Scotia's electricity system is adapting to trends that include the growing adoption of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), which offer benefits such as decarbonization and grid flexibility. However, scaling DERs introduces operational challenges, requiring a coordinated approach to ensure grid reliability, affordability, and clean energy delivery.
Net Metering Report (M12165) and 2025 Commercial Net Metering Report (M12164) 3 Nova Scotia Power. 2026. 2026 Load Forecast Report. 4 Nova Scotia Power. 2025. 2025 [10-Year System Outlook.](https://www.nspower.ca/docs/default-source/monthl...
AI summary NS Power and EfficiencyOne have implemented initiatives such as AMI and time-varying rates to support DER integration. The SGNS project tested a DERMS to coordinate DERs, demonstrating benefits for affordability, reliability, and environmental compliance, and emphasizing collaboration between E1 and NS Power.
Summary of Roadmap The DERIR is built around three core pillars - 1. Planning for DERs proactively to leverage DERs as a resource for meeting emerging system needs. Planning supports coordinated governance, analytical foundations, and regu...
AI summary The DERIR is structured around three pillars: planning for DERs, enabling DER participation, and integrating DERs. These pillars aim to support coordinated governance, stakeholder alignment, and operationalization of DERs through strategies and initiatives. The roadmap includes 12 strategies and 28 initiatives based on stakeholder input and internal knowledge.
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.
Qualitative Assessment Criteria Assessment Rationale Dependencies 1.4.3 (Locational/Seasonal DER Forecasts and Analysis) Jurisdiction Example The Ontario Energy Board's Non-Wires Solutions Guidelines guide the role of non-wires solutions f...
AI summary The document references the Ontario Energy Board's Non-Wires Solutions Guidelines, which require electricity distributors to consider non-wire solutions in distribution system planning for investments of $2 million or more, and document their consideration in rate decisions.
Overview This strategy examines the planning and analytical capabilities needed to support efficient, equitable, and cost-effective DERs. It leverages existing electricity system intelligence tools, such as hosting capacity maps, to active...
AI summary This strategy focuses on DER planning and analytical tools to support efficient and cost-effective integration. Stakeholders recommend stronger coordination between NS Power, E1, and IESO-NS to reduce costs and align assessments with DSM planning. Annual updates to hosting capacity data and targeted locational analyses are suggested to guide DER siting and program design.
Qualitative Assessment Criteria Assessment Rationale Strategic Fit ●●● HIGH Enhanced DER forecasting and analysis supports planning for capacity, reliability, and DER integration. It aligns with current provincial climate goals and grid mo...
AI summary The qualitative assessment highlights the strategic fit and benefits of enhanced DER forecasting and analysis. It supports planning for capacity, reliability, and DER integration, aligns with provincial climate goals, and can improve distribution planning, reliability, and operational efficiencies while advancing decarbonization and economic objectives.
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.
Qualitative Assessment for Grid Interconnection Criteria Assessment Rationale Strategic Fit ●● MED Grid security and reliability initiatives can directly support the operation of a safe, secure, reliable system. Clear interconnection, prot...
AI summary The document evaluates the qualitative aspects of grid interconnection, focusing on strategic fit, benefits, cost favourability, and risk management. It emphasizes the importance of standards for DERs, reliability, and coordination across processes.
Jurisdictional Scan Overview – Utilities Reviewed
AI summary The document provides an overview of a jurisdictional scan of utilities reviewed, including technical systems and infrastructure such as AMI, ADMS, and SCADA. It includes a reference to a picture on page 73.
- Capture case studies of DER integration journeys and innovative efforts by leading utilities Utility Jurisdiction Status Overview of DER integration efforts Nova Scotia Emerging Have made progress integrating DERs with several rates and...
AI summary The document outlines the DER integration status of various utilities across North America, highlighting Nova Scotia's progress with pilot DR programs and DERMS testing, and other regions like Oregon and California leading with comprehensive planning and advanced DER integration strategies.
Key Barriers Commonly Driving Utilities' DER Integration Efforts - Planning Inconsistent treatment and consideration of DERs in system planning at the generation, transmission and distribution levels - DERs viewed as a "load modifier" and...
AI summary The document highlights key barriers to the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) within utility planning processes. These include inconsistent treatment of DERs as a resource class, limited data visibility, uncertainty about market adoption, and a lack of stakeholder buy-in.
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.
Initiatives Employed to Support DERs
AI summary The document discusses initiatives aimed at supporting Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), highlighting the integration of advanced systems such as ADMS, OMS, and D-SCADA, as well as the role of DERIR in facilitating the adoption of DERs.
Planning Strategies - Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) : Evaluation of both supply and demand side resources, grid requirements and long-term requirements/action plans to meet grid needs - Distribution System Plans (DSPs) : Utility DSPs ty...
AI summary The document discusses planning strategies for grid modernization, including Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) and Distribution System Plans (DSPs), which involve evaluating supply and demand resources, DER integration, and non-wire alternatives. Multi-stakeholder coordination is emphasized to engage stakeholders and incorporate feedback into planning.
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.
Integration Strategies - AMI: Nearly all utilities reviewed have implemented AMI, with some advancing to next generation AMI - DERMs: Most utilities have deployed DERMs to monitor, control, and optimize DER integration - Other grid moderni...
AI summary The document discusses integration strategies for modernizing the grid, including the implementation of AMI, DERMs, and other grid modernization software such as FLISRs and VVO. It also mentions hosting capacity maps and improvements to the interconnection process.
NSPI's Progress - 2020 IRP completed with annual action plan updates. - IRP set a target of 75 MW of DR capacity by 2035 and modelled DERs - DR programs including smart thermostats, EV chargers, BESS - TVR programs (TOU, CPP, TOD rate) - U...
AI summary NSPI has completed its 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with annual action plan updates, targeting 75 MW of demand response (DR) capacity by 2035. The plan includes DR programs such as smart thermostats, EV chargers, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), as well as time-varying rate (TVR) programs like TOU, CPP, and TOD rates. NSPI has also implemented AMI and piloted DERMs through SGNS, and established a utility-owned community solar garden in Amherst.
Portland General Electric – DER integration initiatives
AI summary The document discusses Portland General Electric's initiatives related to the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the grid. It includes visual content such as images, potentially illustrating technical aspects or project implementations related to DER integration.
Planning Strategies - Integrated Resource Plan : PGE submits a Clean Energy/Integrated Resource Plan, which anticipates and plans for growing electricity demand and a pathway to achieving state GHG reduction targets. It emphasizes the impo...
AI summary PGE's planning strategies include an Integrated Resource Plan focusing on DERs and DR, a Distribution System Plan emphasizing grid modernization and DER integration, and a Transportation Electrification Plan addressing EV load management and forecasting.
Integration Strategies - AMI: PGE currently has AMI 1.0 meters installed. In its latest DSP, PGE plans to transition to AMI Next Gen, with plans for 20% of the system to be updated by 2028, and a full system update following that. - DERMs:...
AI summary PGE is updating its AMI system to AMI Next Gen, planning a full system update after 2028. It is also developing an Enterprise DERMs platform to manage its DER portfolio and integrating advanced grid management tools like FLISR and Distribution State Estimation. PGE hosts a map to evaluate distributed generation capacity.
Con Edison - Distributed System Implementation Plan
AI summary The document presents Con Edison's Distributed System Implementation Plan, focusing on the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the grid. It outlines strategies and technologies for managing advanced distribution systems, including Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), Outage Management Systems (OMS), and Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR). The plan emphasizes the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in grid modernization.
Spotlight: Highlights from Con Edison's Distributed System Implementation Plan Con Edison's Distributed System Implementation Plan is a comprehensive plan to achieve its future vision for its Distributed System Platform (that will forecast...
AI summary Con Edison's Distributed System Implementation Plan outlines key DER integration components, including NWA programs, utility-owned DERs, market integration, data sharing initiatives, grid modernization efforts, and stakeholder outreach. These strategies aim to support the integration of DERs into the grid and enhance system reliability and efficiency.
Hawaiian Electric- Customer Energy Resource Strategy
AI summary The document discusses Hawaiian Electric's Customer Energy Resource Strategy, focusing on distributed energy resources (DER), advanced distribution management systems (ADMS), and related technologies such as outage management systems (OMS), distribution supervisory control and data acquisition (D-SCADA), and fault location, isolation, and service restoration (FLISR). It also references geographic information systems (GIS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).
Spotlight: Highlights from Hawaiian Electric Company's (HECO) Customer Energy Resource Strategy HECO's Customer Energy Resource (CER) strategy centers around three "Cs" that are enabled through three "Ps": - Choice : Customers chose which...
AI summary HECO's Customer Energy Resource (CER) strategy focuses on choice, coordination, and collaboration, offering various rate designs, demand response programs, and procurement processes. The strategy emphasizes grid modernization and integrated grid planning, with investments in DERMS, AMI, and ADMS, and efforts to define advanced inverter interconnection standards.
Risk, Uncertainty and Innovation
AI summary The section titled 'Risk, Uncertainty and Innovation' introduces a discussion on the integration of advanced technologies and strategies in the energy sector, focusing on distributed energy resources, grid modernization, and innovative approaches to managing risks and uncertainties in the system.
Innovation - Planning Risks: Planning processes are adapting to account for risk and uncertainty associated with when, where, and how many DERs will show up on a utility system. This includes scenario analysis, flexible signpost-based stra...
AI summary The text discusses innovation in utility systems, emphasizing planning, technology, and regulatory risks. It highlights the use of innovation funds, regulatory sandboxes, and pilot frameworks to support the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and test emerging technologies and strategies.
Spotlight: HECO HECO has adopted an Integrated Grid Planning (IGP) framework that holistically considers generation, transmission, distribution, and customer resources. A core component of this framework is a detailed distribution system p...
AI summary HECO has implemented an Integrated Grid Planning framework that considers generation, transmission, distribution, and customer resources. A Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) collaborates with HECO to identify risks and implement mitigation strategies. An innovation pilot framework expedites and scales successful pilot projects.