Topic:"Renewable Energy" in M12177

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.

About Dunsky Dunsky supports leading governments, utilities, corporations and others across North America in their efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition , effectively and responsibly. With deep expertise across the Buildings, M...

AI summary Dunsky is a Canadian consulting firm that supports governments, utilities, and corporations in accelerating the clean energy transition through analysis and strategy development. They operate in multiple sectors and have offices in several Canadian cities, including Halifax.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FIGURE 2: DERIR DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

AI summary This figure outlines the development approach for the Distributed Energy Resources Integration Roadmap (DERIR), which involves key components such as stakeholder engagement, data collection, and integration planning for distributed energy resources.

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.

Each DERIR initiative is prioritized as FOUNDATIONAL , EVOLVING , or EMERGING : FOUNDATIONAL EVOLVING EMERGING Foundational initiatives, aligned to current priorities that can advance DER Integration efforts, with sufficient understanding...

AI summary The text outlines the prioritization of DERIR (Distributed Energy Resources Integration Roadmap) initiatives as FOUNDATIONAL, EVOLVING, or EMERGING. FOUNDATIONAL initiatives are aligned with current priorities and are already implemented or ready to proceed, while EVOLVING initiatives require further refinement and alignment. EMERGING initiatives are promising but need more time, information, or evolving conditions to mature.

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 / Rationale for Inclusion Criteria Assessment Rationale Strategic Fit ●●● HIGH Strong coordination between stakeholders will help enable DERIR roadmap implementation. Alignment on strategies, initiatives, roles, expe...

AI summary The qualitative assessment highlights the strategic fit, benefits, cost favourability, and risk management of the DERIR roadmap. It emphasizes the importance of stakeholder coordination and governance in enabling successful DER integration, with low overall risk and relatively low cost impact.

Overview Capacity building refers to developing the skills, tools, processes, and institutional readiness for Nova Scotia to plan for and integrate DERs. It includes assessing current capabilities across a variety of functions, upskilling...

AI summary Capacity building is essential for Nova Scotia to plan and integrate DERs effectively. Stakeholders support this need but are concerned about resource requirements, costs, and funding. They also emphasize the importance of early assessment and planning to avoid duplication of roles and ensure roadmap progress.

Qualitative Assessment Criteria Assessment Rationale Strategic Fit ●●● HIGH DER valuation framework directly advances the delivery of least-cost, reliable, and clean electricity and aligns with provincial climate and affordability goals. I...

AI summary The qualitative assessment highlights the strategic fit and benefits of a DER valuation framework, emphasizing its alignment with provincial climate and affordability goals. It supports cost-effective DER planning and can lead to system cost savings. However, the cost-favourability is moderate due to the need for internal and external resources for development.

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.

Overview This strategy does not propose bypassing established legislative and regulatory processes. Instead, it recognizes that as the electricity system and DER landscape evolve, policy and regulatory frameworks in Nova Scotia may also ne...

AI summary This strategy emphasizes the need for regulatory adaptation to support DER innovation and flexible utility planning. Stakeholders stress the importance of regulatory oversight at all stages, express concerns about delays from slow processes, and raise questions about alignment with ongoing NSEB proceedings and affordability.

Roadmap Initiatives 2 2 1 Equipment Incentive Programs FOUNDATIONAL Description Targeted incentives encourage and enable DER technology adoption and transform consumer equipment purchases into grid assets. Many DER technologies cost more u...

AI summary The document discusses equipment incentive programs aimed at encouraging the adoption of DER technology by reducing upfront and operating costs through rebates, discounts, and tax credits. It highlights the need for periodic program reviews and the coupling of incentives with demand response programs.

Qualitative Assessment of Demand Response Programs Criteria Assessment Rationale Nova Scotia Context In 2022, the Government of Nova Scotia introduced legislation to update the existing net metering program.16 Jurisdiction Example Several...

AI summary The document discusses the qualitative assessment of demand response programs, including updates to Nova Scotia's net metering program and examples of similar initiatives in other jurisdictions like New York, Hawaii, and British Columbia.

Qualitative Assessment of Compensation Frameworks Criteria Assessment Rationale Strategic Fit ● LOW DER compensation frameworks involve a high degree of coordination. Adjustments to the existing compensation framework will require careful...

AI summary The qualitative assessment evaluates DER compensation frameworks, noting that while they offer benefits like clear price signals, they require stakeholder collaboration, may involve administrative and IT costs, and must align with legislative parameters to manage risks effectively.

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.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Recent governance reforms have reshaped the institutional landscape of Nova Scotia's electricity sector. IESO Nova Scotia is responsible for bulk electricity system planning and management, NS Power is responsibl...

AI summary Recent governance reforms in Nova Scotia's electricity sector have redefined institutional roles, with IESO Nova Scotia managing bulk electricity planning, NS Power handling asset and distribution planning, and E1 leading DSM programs. The need for clarity on DERIR leadership and accountability among key institutions is highlighted to support DER integration.

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.

Dunsky combined their experience and knowledge with a scan of peer and leading utilities' DER integration efforts to: - Compare NSPI's efforts to date to industry peers across North America and beyond - Map the breadth of options that NSPI...

AI summary Dunsky evaluated NSPI's DER integration efforts by comparing them with industry peers, mapping available options for NSPI's roadmap, and identifying best practices from other utilities' experiences.

- 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 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.

Spotlight: Ontario Ontario has made progress in enabling and integrating DERs, including successful procurements for distribution-connected battery storage. However, the province continues to experience fragmented planning and operational...

AI summary Ontario has made progress in integrating DERs, particularly with battery storage, but faces challenges from fragmented planning between LDCs and the IESO, and misaligned incentives. The IESO and OEB are working to address these issues through initiatives like a DSO model and clearer roles for stakeholders.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NSPI's Progress From the SGNS experience, NSPI recognizes the need to address risk and uncertainty in the evolving DER landscape through continued exploration, iterative refinement and DERIR development . The Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB...

AI summary NSPI acknowledges the need to address risk and uncertainty in the DER landscape through continued exploration and DERIR development. The NSEB established a definition of innovation in their Capital Expenditure Justification Criteria, with SGNS being the first project under this framework.

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.

Key findings from preliminary research includes: Planning: Leading utilities are systematically integrating DERs as a resource in IRPs and in distribution planning. While NSPI has an IRP process that considers DER, the jurisdictional scan...

AI summary The preliminary research highlights opportunities for Nova Scotia Power (NSP) to enhance the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) and distribution planning. It emphasizes the need for more granular planning, risk analysis, and the use of DER Management Systems (DERMs) to support DER integration and reduce uncertainty for system operators.

DERIR Scope and Preliminary Goals, Objectives and Guiding Principles The scope of the DERIR initiative, as developed in the framework and discussed with stakeholders, includes the following: - Technologies (behind the meter and distributio...

AI summary The DERIR initiative focuses on integrating distributed energy resources, covering technologies like solar PV and battery storage, customer segments, commercial pathways, enabling infrastructure, use cases, and internal/external processes. Preliminary goals and guiding principles are outlined, subject to change after further stakeholder engagement.

• Goal: • The DERIR will provide a path to unlock both system and customer benefits from DERs while mitigating unintended impacts to support an affordable, reliable, and clean electricity system.

AI summary The DERIR aims to unlock system and customer benefits from distributed energy resources while mitigating unintended impacts, supporting an affordable, reliable, and clean electricity system.

• Guiding Principles - Beneficial DERs are effectively integrated to deliver broad, system-wide benefits to utilities, customers, and the environment. - Affordable DER integration is cost-effective and reduces upward pressure on rates. - R...

AI summary The Guiding Principles emphasize the effective, affordable, and reliable integration of beneficial distributed energy resources (DERs) to deliver system-wide benefits, ensure equity, adaptability, and collaboration among stakeholders including E1, government, and NS Power in developing a robust DERIR for Nova Scotia.