The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has launched the new Distributed Energy Resource Value Estimation Tool (DER-VET) to increase grid flexibility as more distributed energy resources are integrated into a cleaner electric grid. The tool provides a free publicly accessible open-source platform for calculating, understanding and optimizing DER’s value based on technical merits and constraints. DER-VET was developed in collaboration with the California Energy Commission (CEC).

“DER-VET empowers developers, utilities and regulators across the electric power industry to make better-informed DER application decisions based on a comprehensive real-world dataset,” said Daniel Brooks, vice president of Integrated Grid and Energy Systems at EPRI. “Innovative tools are essential to capturing more value from increasingly complex DER solutions that enable greater electric grid flexibility and reliability.”

An extension of EPRI’s StorageVET tool, DER-VET supports site-specific assessments for energy storage and additional DER technologies. Applications across the grid include valuations and impacts of energy storage, solar, wind, demand response, electric vehicle charging, internal combustion engines, and combined heat and power in different configurations such as microgrids. Site conditions, load and other data are used to determine the optimal size, duration and other operational characteristics for maximizing DER project benefits.

“Investments in clean energy innovation, such as the CEC’s EPIC grant supporting the development of DER-VET, are critical to accelerating California’s transition to a carbon-free energy system,” said David Hochschild, CEC chair. “This tool is another important link in making better use of and better integrating our renewable and distributed energy resources supporting a more dynamic, responsive and reliable grid.”

StorageVET, EPRI’s storage value estimation tool and the predecessor to DER-VET, helps decision makers determine where to place and install energy storage, the optimum size and which controls to include. StorageVET also improves energy storage project planning by enabling rapid analysis of scenarios with different storage sizes, costs and value streams.