Lawrence E. Jones, Ph.D., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Policy & Industry Relations, ALSTOM GRID INC. Appointed to US Government, Smart Grid Advisory Committee

A very different energy infrastructure for the 21st century is emerging, featuring large amounts of wind, solar and other variable energy resources in the generation mix. However, as the percentage of wind and solar has increased, difficulties have arisen with the grid and energy markets not designed for distributed variable assets, leading to system instability, generation curtailment and problems delivering available power to customers. Regulators are recognizing the potential impacts on system reliability and energy markets and, in response, have launched rulemakings that could have enormous impacts on energy markets, system operations and investment not only in the grid itself, but also in energy storage, wind and solar projects. The decisions made now will have major repercussions on the profitability of wind and solar projects and on technology investments by transmission owners and the business models of energy storage providers.

Infocast’s Wind and Solar Integration Summit will examine impacts of the recently issued FERC Order No. 1000, impending VER and other rulemakings, and explore which operational market and technological solutions might be best implemented to ensure the delivery of renewable energy to market. The 2011 summit generated unique results through enabling communities that normally do not interact to become educated on each other’s concerns and constraints. The Wind and Solar Integration Summit 2012 will further facilitate cost-effective and commercially viable solutions to getting power to market.

Come meet policy makers and senior executives, transmission owners and operators, renewable energy developers, storage and other technology providers, and exchange invaluable information on which changes to operations, market rules and grid investment will have the greatest impact on integration of distributed solar and grid-scale wind and solar energy.