Research: Systems Analysis

Smart grid photovoltaic

A team of energy and grid experts from Agronne, ComEd, GridPoint, and the University of Illinois Sustainable Technology Center is currently engaged in a “Smart Grid Photovoltaic Pilot” project. The objective of this project is to observe the behavioral impacts of customers w ith PV in combination with advanced pricing structures such as real-time pricing and net metering. Additionally, the project seeks to explore the impacts to utility grid reliability of customer sited PV. Four distinct group of customers will be studied including (1) conventionally metered customers, (2) customers supplied with near real-time meters, (3) customers with PV devices and real-time meters, and lastly (4) customers with PV devices, real-time meters, and battery backup systems. Data and information gathered from these customer groups will be used to analyze how residential customers may respond to real-time price signals and estimate possible impacts of PV and storage technologies across the wider ComEd service territory.

March 2010