ScottMadden, Inc., one of North America’s leading management consulting firms specializing in energy, recently released its latest edition of The ScottMadden Energy Industry Update (EIU). Themed “Everything Counts … In Large Amounts,” this EIU explores key considerations for utilities in balancing or prioritizing development of utility-scale versus distributed renewable resources.
“Large amounts” of renewable resources are on the horizon, constituting a big part of interconnection queues across the nation. But what should the balance be between utility-scale and distributed renewables? Depending on what’s in the ground and policy incentives, focusing on utility-scale resources may make sense for many utilities.
As the EIU highlights, the growth of renewables is shaped by many drivers, including state policy, resource availability, technology costs, geography, and customer preferences. As more states transition to high-renewable energy penetrations, utilities will need to be nuanced in their thinking about the best portfolio of products to offer their customers. There are several criteria—including cost, speed to scale, and grid integration—that point toward leveraging utility-scale resources. For a utility that has yet to set a direction, these factors provide a compelling rationale to pursue a strategy comprised predominantly of utility-scale renewables.
“For utilities in states without a significant penetration of solar, utility-scale solar offers them the opportunity to shape their own future and improve their product offering to customers,” explains Sean Lawrie, partner at ScottMadden.
For more information about integrating renewables, you can hear from our industry experts in this new video or access our latest report here.
Complimentary Energy Industry Update Webcast
If you have not yet registered, we encourage you to join ScottMadden’s complimentary webcast, “ScottMadden’s Energy Industry Update – Everything Counts … In Large Amounts,” on Friday, November 15, 2019, from 1PM–2PM EST. During this session, our industry experts will share their views and field questions related to the potential loss of carbon-free generation and its implications, the iconic duck curve, and developments in the Western Energy Imbalance Market. Join us to hear from our experts. Cristin Lyons, partner and energy practice leader, will serve as webcast moderator. Register for this webcast here.
About ScottMadden’s Energy Practice
We know energy from the ground up. Since 1983, we have served as energy consultants for hundreds of utilities, large and small, including all of the top 20. We focus on Transmission & Distribution, the Grid Edge, Generation, Energy Markets, Rates & Regulation, Enterprise Sustainability, and Corporate Services. Our broad, deep utility expertise is not theoretical—it is experience based. We have helped our clients develop and implement strategies, improve critical operations, reorganize departments and entire companies, and implement myriad initiatives.