ESMO 2019 - Developments & Opportunities of Microgrid and DER Technologies

Microgrids and DERs (distributed generators, energy storage devices, and controllable loads) are reshaping the utility industry from a centralized electricity supplying method to a decentralized one and from relying on fuels to producing and consuming cleaner energy. These changes will drive increasingly decarbonized, reduce power losses, defer transmission & distribution infrastructure upgrades and expansions, increase power supplying resilience and finally improve customer experiences with more options. In the meantime, there are still many challenges to be resolved, such as developing more durable and economical switching devices or batteries, advancing DER management and protection technologies, optimizing the size and location of a DER or a microgrid, and overcoming the limitations of the existing regulatory and market frameworks, etc. This panel session is targeted to share some of the latest micorgrid and DER technologies and look into the future development and application opportunities.