Nationwide, the role of distributed generation (e.g., solar and wind) among utilities is becoming increasingly important for generation portfolio diversification, operating profitability and reliability, and meeting consumer demand. As distributed generation resources become integrated, utilities find themselves under increasing pressure to better manage and optimize resources because of ROI considerations and market/service expectations. (See Georgia Tech Energy Series program, March 2014.)

Innovation, which brought forward distributed generation technologies, is also bringing forward tools to integrate, manage and optimize these resources. For the long-term, utility business models, which incorporate distributed generation and tools for demand management and resource optimization, are emerging with positive results.

Speakers include representatives of:

• McKinsey & Company
• US Department of Energy
• Comverge
• Georgia Institute of Technology