DER Task Force

We’re back! This time with Nic Freschi, Senior Associate at Gable Associates and all around PJM wizard. Nic is a friend and OG member of the DERTF. Almost a year ago, Nic’s models began predicting the ~10x increase in PJM capacity prices we saw in the recent auction. How did he know?

In this ep, we go deep on every acronym you could ever imagine: ELCC, ORDC, PCM, LSERO, UCAP, ICAP, and so much more. Tune in to learn how ELCCs work, how prices clear in the PJM auction, if renewables can ever proliferate in capacity markets, the future of PJM, whether private traders or public bureaucrats should have their hands on the “ELCC dials”, comparing and contrasting ERCOT to PJM, James getting PJM-pilled, and so much more!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Last week we were lucky enough to sit down with Arushi Sharma Frank, the policy wizard who while at Tesla Energy helped turn Texas into one of the DER capitals of the world. She gives us the in depth history of of how ERCOT’s VPP program was forged — a story our co-host James was also a part of. We also talk about the rest of her time at Tesla, case studies in Australia and the UK, how regulators still don’t understand organic consumer adoption patterns, the Obamacare of power markets, where residential DERs are headed, and what Arushi is focusing on now with Luminary Strategies. Recording this episode was super fun, so we hope you enjoy it as well. Pretty sure Arushi re-DER-pilled the three of us during this one.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back! This time with Charlotta Holmquist, President and Co-Founder of Blixt. Blixt is based in Sweden and just closed a fundraise led by Union Square Ventures. Their solid state circuit breaker and x-verter technology have the potential to fundamentally change how we approach building the grid.

We’ve never left a conversation so excited about what the future could look like. We discuss everything from transformers for data centers, what the benefits of solid state power electronics are, the implications of them, the possibility of “flexible” interconnections, and so much more. Tune in for one of our favorite episodes in recent memory!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back for our first solo pod in months! We talk about what everyone is talking about these days… VPPs and load growth from AI. Is all this hype and talk about our space a good thing? Tune in to hear the Task Force unpack and set the narrative straight.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back, this time with Allison Bates Wannop, DERTF’s policy lead! We cover an absolute ton of stuff in this one:

* Allison's background and introduction, Mother's Day acknowledgments

* Mary Powell's influence, DER advocacy, the significance of FERC v. EPSA in shaping energy policy

* Favorite DER categories, Vermont initiatives, impact of extreme weather on policy, details about the Green Mountain Power programs

* Differences between RTOs and ISOs, complexities in regulatory work, challenges with vertically integrated states

* DER Task Force goals and approach, community-driven policy development, the impact of virtual meeting technology in policy advocacy

* Role of trade associations and NGOs, gaps in current DER advocacy, examples of community collaboration innovative solutions

* Load flexibility, redefining Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), DERs as non-wires alternatives, peaker plant replacements

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Last week we sat down with Dave Riess, the CEO and co-founder of Wunder. They’re working hard to scale mid-sized commercial solar projects, where they believe the real TAM is in this market. Dave is an awesome guy who’s been grinding in the space for years now, so we naturally had a ton to talk about.

* (00:02:55) Introduction and Guest Overview: Introduction of the hosts and the guest, David Reese, co-founder, and CEO of Wonder (formerly Wonder Capital).

* (00:07:33) Network-Based Energy Infrastructure: Discussion on evolving energy infrastructure to a more network-based architecture.

* (00:40:42) Commercial Solar Market Challenges: Analysis of why the commercial solar market isn't scaling more quickly.

* (00:50:25) Pricing and Merchant Exposure: Examination of pricing strategies and the risks of merchant exposure in solar projects.

* (00:57:49) Reducing Transaction Costs: Strategies to streamline the underwriting, structuring, and de-risking processes in solar projects.

* (01:27:39) DERs and Market Dynamics: Insights on the role of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and their impact on the energy market.

* (01:34:42) Future of the Grid: Speculations on how the main grid might evolve or shrink in favor of the grid edge.

* (01:45:03) Technology Development vs. Deployment: The imbalance between resources allocated to technology development and deployment.

* (01:46:06) Solid-State Power Electronics: Potential impact of solid-state power electronics on grid infrastructure.

* (01:47:24) Energy Market Evolution: The slow evolution of the energy market and the role of capitalism in driving change.

* (01:48:38) Solving Energy Problems: Identifying and addressing the primary constraints in the energy market.

* (01:50:15) Transformer and Power Electronics: Discussion on transformers, power electronics, and their role in future energy systems.

* (01:50:59) DC Microgrids and EV Charging: Potential benefits of DC microgrids and advancements in EV charging technology.

* (01:51:34) Capital and Risk Management: Matching capital with the risk profile of solar assets and the importance of certainty in asset performance.

* (02:00:39) Revisiting Past Technologies: Reflection on past technological advancements and their relevance today.

* (02:01:25) Deployment Focus: Emphasis on the importance of focusing on the deployment of existing technologies.

* (02:12:35) CSP 2.0 for Data Centers: Exploration of CSP 2.0 technology for providing clean power to AI data centers.

* (02:14:36) Opinions on Emerging Technologies: Mixed views on the potential success of emerging energy technologies like CSP 2.0.

* (02:11:57) Solar and AI Data Centers: Discussion on the announcement of a new project for AI data centers using solar thermal energy.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back! This time with Casey Handmer, founder and CEO of Terraform Industries. Terraform is building a system to turn cheap solar electricity into methane. To pull this off they’ll need to commercialize the most performant and lowest-cost electrolysis, carbon capture, and Sabatier reactors ever seen. Casey had a ton of interesting thoughts about how to pull this off from engineering fundamentals in a manner that is tailored to the capacity factor of solar. We also get into the history of the energy industry, space, incumbency, electricity versus gas distribution networks, utility-scale DERs, and a ton more. This is one for the true energy nerds!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We’re back! This time we sat down with Quincy Lee, CEO and co-founder of Electric Era, an electric vehicle refueling company. Quincy has a super cool background - starting with designing skyscrapers, then moving on to space technology, and now he’s der-pilled.

We talk about all kinds of stuff in this one:

* what SpaceX and Starlink were like

* why EV charging, or whoops, we mean “car refill”

* EV charging reliability

* grid constraints limiting EV infrastructure

* the role of social media in shaping public opinion on energy

* the category isn’t ClimateTech or even EnergyTech - its GridTech

* and Deep GridTech is here!

* solid state power electronics, quantum-level stuff

* where the hell are all the transformers we need?

* Quincy: Gundo is “okay”, but come to Seattle

* innovation at the grid edge

* the grid edge strangler figging the grid?

This is a free episode for all subscribers, but if you want access to everything we do and would like to support our work broadly, be sure to visit www.dertaskforce.com and become a paid subscriber for just $5/month.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

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We’re back! This time with a VIDEO POD. We recorded this live at DTECH a few weeks ago and haven’t had time to upload it. But this is a fun one that you don’t want to miss.

Not only did we finally find out what a DERMS is, but we also became fully converted distribution utility maxis after walking the show floor. We’re all quitting our jobs and starting hardware companies with the Gundo boys! Tune in to hear why!

The is a paid episode for the real DERTF heads. If you appreciate our work and want to support it, all while getting access to exclusive paid content, consider subscribing at www.dertaskforce.com.

We’re back, this time joined by Jesse Jenkins - professor at Princeton and lead of the Zero Lab. We cover a ton of ground in this one, including:

* Jesse’s DERs journey, including skepticism at times and optimism at others.

* A ton of discussion on rate design.

* Jesse’s recent pod on rooftop solar.

* How the hell is rooftop solar so expensive here versus Australia?

* Where DERs are unfairly advantaged and disadvantaged.

* How we’re going to deal with load growth, transmission buildout, interconnection queues, etc.

The is a free episode, but if you appreciate our work and want to support it, and get access to exclusive paid content, consider subscribing at www.dertaskforce.com.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe