Southeast Conference Program

9:40 - 10:25 AM ET

Sponsored by:

Developers and utilities are often billed as opponents. While one is in pursuit of fighting the effects of climate change, the other aims to preserve a century-old status quo. Not only does this posturing lack the nuance of a complicated dynamic, but it also stands to stunt the energy transition. In reality, all parties are in pursuit of the cleanest and most-reliable grid. How do we get there, together? This session explores how radical collaboration between developers, utilities, and their regulators can improve resource planning and integration.

9:40 - 10:25 AM ET

Sponsored by:

In this session, we will explore how distributed intelligence can alleviate congestion to defer grid investment, enable investment in distributed assets, and enable new market participation in capacity and flexibility markets. We will review some of the trends from European markets and discuss how lessons learned could applied in the US.

10:35 - 11:20 AM ET

As the deployment of distributed energy resources accelerates in the Southeast, understanding the fundamentals of DER Interconnection Agreements has become crucial for utilities and developers. This session aims to shed light on the intricacies of the interconnection process, exploring its benefits and limitations from both utility and developer standpoints. Join us to gain valuable insights into how this process shapes the integration of renewable energy resources into the grid and learn about potential challenges and opportunities.

11:30 - 12:15 PM ET

This session will discuss the regulatory and legislative actions around distributed energy interconnection in the Southeast in 2023. Discussion will include noteworthy interconnection developments and processes throughout the country, as well as proposed interconnection process advancements, including implementation of FERC 2023 (i.e. cluster studies).

1:15 - 2:00 PM ET

Federal policy is moving the bulk power system toward a pro forma cluster study process for resource integration, aiming to alleviate clogged interconnection cues and distribute upgrade costs among multiple parties. The same can't be said for the distribution grid, which remains, in much of the Southeast, fragmented and set in a one-by-one approach to interconnection. This session will analyze the benefits and drawbacks to cluster studies and cost sharing for DER interconnection in the Southeast. 

2:10 - 2:55 PM ET

In 2020 and 2021, Duke Energy received approval from state regulators to transition its interconnection process from serial to cluster studies. The approach adds additional responsibilities for both the utility and interconnecting developers to reach milestones and maintain efficiency. Nearly three years later, this session will analyze results from Duke Energy's early cluster studies, as well as potential opportunities for the process to evolve.

3:05 - 3:50 PM ET

Transmission interconnection queue placement affords developers access to crucial system data. At the distribution level, however, the process can often be significantly more opaque, with developers lacking access to hosting capacity maps, line and substation load data, voltages, and more. This session will explore opportunities for improved transparency in DER interconnection that balances developer needs with utility system safeguards.

4:00 - 4:45 PM ET

Sponsored by:

As the demand for electric vehicles continues to surge across the Southeast, utilities and developers are facing critical EV load integration challenges.   This session delves into the most pressing technical and policy elements that impact the successful integration of EV charging infrastructure into the region's grid. Join industry experts as they discuss strategies, lessons learned, dynamic demand-side management, and best practices to navigate the complexities of DER interconnection while promoting sustainable and efficient EV adoption.