Interconnection Resources for Utilities and Regulatory Commissions: the LODGE Model and i2X Webinar
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On March 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) hosted a webinar for utilities and public utility commissions, where industry experts discussed DOE initiatives and resources available to assist with interconnection and siting challenges. The webinar included a deep dive into SETO’s newly announced Least-Cost Optimal Distribution Grid Expansion (LODGE) Model and DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X).
In partnership with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), DOE developed the LODGE Model to offer insight into the most cost-effective strategic siting points along the grid for interconnecting community solar and storage using data provided by the local distribution utility. The model has the potential to lower costs for utilities and promote increased deployment of distributed generation and storage.
Given the model’s complexity, it is operated by LBNL; however, for the model to work, it requires utility and public utility commission data. Therefore, DOE seeks utility and commission partners to pilot the tool. During the webinar, experts will explain how the model works, dive deeper into its benefits for utilities and public utility commissions, and what the pilot partnership requires of participants. Learn more about the LODGE Model and become partner.
i2X convenes stakeholders involved in the interconnection of solar energy, wind energy, and energy storage resources to facilitate peer-learning and knowledge exchange and inspire new interconnection ideas and capabilities. During this webinar, experts provided an overview of i2X’s transmission and distribution interconnection roadmaps, provided an update on future stakeholder meetings and meeting topics, and potential funding opportunities.
Event speakers included:
- Miguel Heleno, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Juan Pablo Carvallo, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Ammar Qusaibaty, Contractor supporting the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office
Additional Information
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