The Energy Systems Integration (ESI) Program Area is one of the seven research program areas within PIER (Public Interest Energy Research) at the California Energy Commission.
The ESI program conducts cross-cutting research critical to the improvement of California's electricity infrastructure.
ESI takes a systems approach to identify and pursue initiatives.
The primary mission of ESI is to develop research opportunities that facilitate the integration and development of innovative technologies to provide California's with a more effective, efficient, and reliable electricity infrastructure.
ESI's current research is focused on six areas:
- Demand Response: The Demand Response research program is focused on the energy consumer's ability to respond to supply-side electricity prices and system contingencies by way of communications and control technologies.
- Distributed Energy Resources Systems Integration (DER): The DER System Integration research program is focused on issues related to using DER as part of the larger interconnected electricity grid. These issues include interconnection standards and technology, grid impacts, and market integration.
- Distribution: The distribution research program area is currently under development. This program area will focus on addressing the challenges facing California's distribution system by developing more flexible and responsive distribution solutions that enable demand response and DER Integration.
- Security: The security research program area is currently under development. This program area will focus on addressing security issues as they related to California's electric grid.
- Strategic and Enabling Technologies: The Strategic systems and enabling technologies support innovative and often long-range RD&D. This research program area is open to new ideas for innovation that could provide benefits to California but do not fit elsewhere in the structure of the PIER program.
- Transmission: The Transmission Research Program performs research projects that have the potential to enhance transmission capabilities.
A number of reports detail the Energy Systems Integration R&D focus and plans:
PIER Distributed Energy Resources Integration Program Research and Development Plan, publication # CEC-500-2005-208. (Not yet available on line.)
Energy Systems Integration Area of the PIER Program Distribution Research Assessment, publication # CEC-500-2005-209. (PDF file, 56 pages, 772 kilobytes)
PIER Strategic Program - Strategic Distributed Energy Resources Research Assessment, publication # P500-01-016, October 2001. (PDF file, 147 pages, 1.5 megabytes)
California's Electricity System of the Future - Scenario Analysis in Support of Public-Interest Transmission System R&D Planning, publication # P500-03-010F. (PDF file, 62 pages, 250 kilobytes)
Distributed Energy Resources Integration Research Program: Research and Development Plan, Consultant Report, publication # P500-03-095.. (PDF file, 65 pages, 1.00 megabytes)
Five-Year Transmission Research and Development Plan, publication # P500-03-104F. (PDF file, 29 pages, 75 kilobytes)
To learn more about ESI's specific program areas click on research program areas.
If you have any questions about ESI, please contact us at pieresi@energy.state.ca.us.