DER - Solar

PGE plans for a battery and DER-heavy future

PGE plans for a battery and DER-heavy future
(PGE infographic show how the utility has plan to decarbonize the power supply while adding reliable, clean energy resources.)

Portland General Electric is taking bold action in its march to a clean energy-powered grid, releasing a new, first-ever, Clean Energy Plan in addition to its Integrated Resource Plan, which both focus on the addition of more community based renewable energy (CBRE).

In a video summary, Kristen Sheeran, Director of Resource Planning and Sustainability outlined the five basic components of the plan, which include:

  • New utility scale renewable projects like wind and solar installations, both in-state and out-of-state.
  • Non-emitting capacity such as batteries.
  • CBRE resources, small distributed energy resources that include battery storage and solar, which can make customers more resilient and save them money.
  • Customer-sited solutions including energy efficiency and demand response programs.
  • Upgrades to local transmission lines and new regional transmission solutions to accommodate growth and bring a greater geographic diversity of resources to PGE’s portfolio.

The utility said it foresees a significant capacity need of 1136 MW in summer, 1004 MW in winter, and a significant energy need of 905 MWa (~2,500 MW nameplate) by 2030. To help meet that need, it plans to add up to 155 MW of CBRE resources by 2030 with plans to pursue at least 66 MW by 2026.

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PGE also plans to conduct one or more Request for Proposals (RFPs) for an additional 181 MWa (~520 MW nameplate) of non-emitting generation and sufficient capacity to remain resource adequate each year, it said.

“This plan reflects the values and expectations of our customers who, for decades, have made clean energy a top priority,” said Maria Pope, Portland General Electric’s president and CEO. “Achieving decarbonization will require continued collaboration with our customers and community partners at the local, state and federal levels. “

More information on the combined Clean Energy Plan and Integrated Resource Plan filing can be found HERE.

Originally published by Power Grid