Meeting Customer and Supply-side Market Needs with Electrical and Thermal Storage, Solar, Energy Efficiency and Integrated Load Management Systems

The Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) with subcontracted support from Olivine Inc., Tesla, Inc. (formerly Solar City, Inc.), Conectric Networks, LLC., and DNV-GL, led a multi-year technology demonstration pilot titled, “Meeting Customer and Supply-side Market Needs with Electrical and Thermal Storage, Solar, Energy Efficiency and Integrated Load Management Systems.” The project consisted of two behind-the-meter energy storage and distributed energy resource (DER) technology portfolios that tested multiple-use applications with the aim of maximizing benefits for both the customer site hosts, electricity grid and the environment. Specifically, the project demonstrated how these applied technologies could decrease customer utility bills through a combination of “active” and passive efficiency measures and onsite solar photovoltaic generation-to-storage while also earning revenue by direct participation in the California wholesale energy and ancillary services markets—as proxy demand resources. Beyond providing day-ahead and real-time energy into the wholesale market, the project was among the first demonstrations of a resource behind-the-meter providing ancillary services via spinning reserves.