Hello there, solar enthusiasts!
Today, I want to dive into some news coming out of the RE+ Mid-Atlantic conference in Philadelphia that particularly caught my eye. As a solar expert, I’ve seen countless discussions about the role of battery storage when it comes to solar, and with the eco-conscious wave sweeping across the nation, it seems this topic is hotter than ever.
In this conference, we saw an expert panel chew on strategies for storage deployment in the PJM interconnection area, a region that unfortunately lags behind others in this aspect. Now, you might be looking at your solar array for home and wondering, just why is this region falling behind? I was pondering the same thing, so let’s delve into this.
The panelists were united in their belief that the road to successful solar storage implementation is paved with clear and purposeful policies. However, frankly speaking, the necessary levels of storage capacity for a clean energy transition might just exceed what our policymakers, utilities, and developers are accustomed to.
One interesting nugget I gathered from Nitzan Goldberger, the panel moderator, is that the PJM region has seen less storage deployment compared to areas like California, New England, and New York. He challenged the group to understand not only the challenges and hurdles impeding storage in this area but also what is being done to tackle them.
Adding a utility perspective, Erik Henlon pointed out the difficulty lies in aligning ambitious storage targets with a clear roadmap on how to actually achieve them. Amid a sea of emerging technologies designed to meet large-scale goals, he underscored the importance of strategic planning and stakeholder collaboration for proper utilization of storage on the system.
From these discussions, it became clear that while lofty clean energy targets and improved community equity are noble end goals, these ambitions can sometimes cloud the much-needed realistic steps to bring these targets to life.
So, where do we go from here? Interestingly, the panel pinpointed specific policies as the crucial cog that determines a state’s storage market. Case in point: Maryland recently passed the Drive Act, mandating utilities support bi-directional charging of EVs and time-of-use tariffs. Now, any fellow Marylanders with solar panels for your home, or any aspirants pondering approaching solar companies for installation, this Act allows you to enjoy energy savings on your bills.
However, the challenge is creating a mechanism where private storage assets can get paid for the services they provide on the grid. The consensus was that specific policies that allow storage to assist in reducing the distribution system peak can save significant cash for both utilities and ratepayers.
This is where solar companies jump in. Companies across the Northeast have understood the system and created programs allowing owners to monetize the services enabled by storage. It’s high time this approach took root in the PJM region too.
In conclusion, while targets are certainly far from pointless, they are not enough. As any successful solar company will tell you, it’s all about financing your storage projects, and for that, we need states to affirm the worth of storage through compensation for the services it can offer.
So, for all you eco-warriors out there considering solar panels for your home, stay tuned to how this landscape evolves. As we’ve learned, every state is different, but there’s nothing to stop the PJM region from catching up – here’s looking ahead to a sunnier, cleaner future!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/07/25/energy-storage-opportunities-in-mid-atlantic-region-await-clear-state-policies/
