DERs can play an important role in the distribution system—planning for both the value they provide and the uncertainty they create is critical.
Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Planning
Deeper insights into DER integration - all in a single software
The Challenge
Common DERs
Integrated DER planning with SAInt
SAInt closes the DER planning gap by delivering an integrated and realistic view of DER participation across generation and transmission systems that captures constraints, behaviors, availability, and dependable value, enabling planners to make confident, reliability driven decisions.
Step 1: Model the transmission system
Configure and run a physical a simulation of the bulk power transmission.
Image: A bulk transmission system is modeled.
Step 2: Visualize Transmission and Distribution Systems in a Single Unified Model
Combine bulk power transmission system and distribution system assets into a single unified data model for visualization and assessment.
Image: A bulk transmissions system with a distribution system feeder attached.
Step 3: Assess Combined Transmission/Distribution Reliability
Validate transmission and distribution reliability by running unified unbalanced AC power flow simulations to pinpoint overloaded assets across both networks.
Image: Assess the reliability of both distribution-sited and transmission-sited assets.
Step 4: Jointly Optimize System and DER Operations
Jointly optimize bulk power and DER operations while running unbalanced AC power flow simulations to identify overloaded transmission and distribution assets and operational constraints.
Image: Electric vehicle, heatpumps, and battery storage respond to prevent overloading of a distribution transformer.
Step 5: Compare Costs and Reliability Across DER Strategies
Assess the reliability of the bulk power system and DER operations by running unbalanced AC power flow simulations to confirm reliability.
Image: Transfer dispatches to an unbalanced AC power flow is used to confirm transformer over voltages are avoided.
The Value of DER Planning with SAInt
Discover New, Realistic DER Dispatches
Use SAInt to expand your planning workflow to include thousands of operating scenarios to inform your understanding of the behavior and value DERs can bring to the grid, enabling you to reduce risk and increase reliability.
Understand DER Behavior Across Conditions
SAInt clarifies how DERs perform across seasons, events, and signals, enabling more reliable operations, right sized programs, and confident contingency planning.
Prioritize High Value Investments
Quantify practical participation, identify real network constraints, and direct capital to upgrades that deliver reliability and measurable system cost savings.
See what SAInt can do
Schedule a demo to learn how to streamline DER planning into one seamless, efficient SAInt workflow.
See More
See the insights that VELCO is gaining from SAInt
Through SAInt, VEC is developing insights into how coordinated DER behavior can improve transmission system operations.
Read the report
Read the Integrated Planning Guidebook from the Energy Systems Integration Group
“Without … visibility into the magnitude, location, and operation of DERs, … planning will continue to be executed without realizing the value stack of DERs."
Read the report
