The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC) has awarded a $3 million contract for a solar aggregation pilot project aimed at expanding renewable energy and improving the reliability of the District’s electric grid.
Announced Feb. 24, the project will be led by clean energy developer Ecogy Energy, in partnership with grid technology company Ecosuite.
The initiative is part of the Commission’s “PowerPath DC” program, which focuses on modernizing the District’s energy delivery system and testing innovative energy solutions.
Ecogy Energy, a company that develops and operates renewable energy systems, will manage the project using three solar installations it already owns in the District. Ecosuite will provide the technology platform that connects and coordinates the solar systems, allowing them to communicate with the electric grid in real time.
“This is a big win for the District,” said DCPSC Chairman Emile Thompson in a statement. “This pilot project has the potential to deploy solar power into the District that uses advanced inverter technology to keep the grid more stable and reliable.”
The project will upgrade the existing solar sites with advanced software and secure communication systems that allow two-way interaction with the grid. Officials say this technology will help the solar systems operate together as a coordinated network rather than as individual energy sources.
During the pilot, additional clean energy technologies may also be installed at the participating locations. These could include battery storage systems, energy-efficient building technologies and electric vehicle charging stations.
By coordinating these systems, often referred to as distributed energy resources, the project could reduce strain on the electric grid during times of high demand. It may also lower costs for connecting renewable energy systems to the grid while improving reliability during extreme weather events.