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manner approved by the utility. Once interconnected, these resources are constrained
in their ability to interact with the grid by the existing functionality, capabilities and
protection schemes that are in place.
Heretofore, these resources have generally been added to the existing grid in
a manner in which they are at best viewed as a useless appendage. Some have
described it as the utility approach to interconnected, customer side distributed
generation as "connect and forget".
With ever-increasing levels of penetration of distributed energy, we can no longer
afford not to utilize DER as a dynamic asset serving the grid. New York and many of
the Northeast states have very ambitious goals for adding renewable energy and CHP
into the existing energy supply mix.
If we create the right system we can more readily insure that as we make new
investments in the Distribution System, the direction we are heading in looks
more like this:
Figure 6. Faster Growth of "DG Amenability" of the Grid
(More Optimal Use of DG Functionality):
To guarantee realization of the full spectrum of benefi ts from DER, we must
fundamentally alter the distribution system and the planning and approval process
that guides the investments that determine its functionality.
Fundamental changes in the confi guration of our electric power generation and
distribution system will require concomitant changes in distribution planning, the
structure and composition of the assets on the distribution system and the operation
of the system itself (e.g. the network protection schemes).
As we make new investments in New York's distribution system we need to ensure
that the direction we are heading in doesn't look like this.
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