Final Deliverable Reports

The following reports were produced to address specific objectives defined in the project scope of work.

Over the course of the project, Austin SHINES undertook installing more than 3 MW of distributed battery energy storage, smart photovoltaic (PV) inverters, a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) control platform, and other enabling technologies utilizing customer and utility locations and aggregation models.

All of these resources were integrated and optimized at the utility level. DER assets and control methodologies achieved a credible pathway to a System Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for energy delivered to load of $0.14//kWh or less by 2020, while maximizing distributed solar generation and maintaining acceptable standards of power quality.

The project also established a template for other regions to follow to maximize the adoption of distributed solar PV in support of an economic and efficient grid.

Research Categories and Deliverables

• Final Deliverable 1: System Levelized Cost of Electricity (System LCOE) Methodology (pdf)
  The creation and use of the System LCOE to Serve Load metric that encompasses the holistic, system-level costs and benefits of all resources, and enables them to be evaluated based on their ability to support an efficient and low-cost integrated grid ecosystem.
   
• Final Deliverable 2: Software Platform Product Description (pdf)
  The creation of new DER control methodologies deployable within a utility-grade software platform that enable DER's to maximize their benefit within a grid, that is capable of serving load enabling a high penetration of distributed PV generation.
   
• Final Deliverable 3: Optimal Design Methodology (pdf)
  Optimal design methodologies for individual DER installations that enable utilities to determine the optimal combinations and sizing for individual DER sites.
   
• Final Deliverable 4: Ownership and Operation Models for DER System Performance (pdf)
  A comparison of multiple DER aggregation and ownership methodologies including direct utility control, third-party aggregator, and autonomous.
   
• Final Deliverable 5: Economic Modeling and Optimization (pdf)
  A comparison of multiple DER technology mixes and configurations within the distribution system, providing insight into an optimal blend of technologies that best enable the distribution system to serve load at the lowest cost at high penetrations of solar.
   
• Final Deliverable 6: Fielded Assets (pdf)
  Deployed DER assets within the Austin Energy SHINES circuits.

Partnership with Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under Award Number DE-EE0007177.

These reports were prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Learn More

• Read the project overview
• Get an overview of how energy storage works
• Read the media coverage for Austin SHINES