Distributed Energy Resources in Modern Energy Systems (Webinar)

In Distributed Energy Resources in Modern Energy Systems (Webinar), you'll learn ...

• The role of distributed energy resources in creating resilient, flexible, and decentralized modern energy systems
• The capabilities, limitations, and maturity levels of established, emerging, and future DER technologies
• The integration of generation, storage, flexible loads, controls, and microgrids to support critical energy requirements
• How to evaluate and select DER technologies based on resilience objectives, load characteristics, site constraints, outage duration, and operational needs

Overview

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This webinar examines how decentralized generation, energy storage, controllable loads, and emerging technologies are reshaping modern electrical systems. The course introduces the defining characteristics of resilient DERs, including dispatchability, islanding capability, strategic siting, fuel security, quick ramping, grid services, decentralization, and operational flexibility. It explores established technologies such as solar photovoltaics, wind, battery storage, combined heat and power, fuel cells, hydrogen-enabled stationary power, and demand response, while distinguishing these resources from emerging and speculative technologies such as small modular reactors, wave energy, fusion, and space-based solar power.

Participants also examine how DERs support resilience, cost management, sustainability, local control, and critical-load continuity. Particular attention is given to microgrids, smart-grid technologies, outage duration, fuel strategy, and the importance of matching DER capabilities to site-specific objectives. The presentation concludes with a practical planning framework for evaluating DER portfolios and avoiding common mistakes involving technology maturity, capacity, controls, interconnection, operations, and maintenance.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the defining characteristics of distributed energy resources (DERs) and their role in modern electrical systems.
• Identify the eight characteristics associated with resilient DERs, including dispatchability, islanding capability, strategic siting, fuel security, quick ramping, grid services, decentralization, and operational flexibility.
• Compare the capabilities and limitations of solar PV, wind, battery storage, combined heat and power, fuel cells, hydrogen-enabled power, and flexible loads.
• Distinguish among commercially available, emerging, and speculative distributed energy technologies.
• Explain the relationship among decentralization, local generation, grid connectivity, energy independence, and resilience.
• Describe the use of smart-grid sensors, communications, automation, and controls to coordinate distributed resources.
• Explain the integration of multiple DER technologies within microgrids to support islanding and critical-load continuity.
• Evaluate the importance of outage duration, fuel availability, and load prioritization when developing resilient energy strategies.
• Assess DER technologies according to dispatchability, duration, efficiency, emissions, complexity, and operations and maintenance requirements.
• Apply a practical DER planning process based on project objectives, load characteristics, site constraints, technology functions, scenario modeling, and resilience requirements.