Following is a more detailed outline of content contained in the Integrating Distributed Energy Resources into the Bulk Electric System online course.

Course content:

• Introduction
  • Definition of DERs
  • Definition of the BES
  • Why DERs have different impacts than centralized generation
  • Definition of reliability
  • Key factors for reliable operation of the BES
• Impacts of DERs on frequency
  • Principles of managing frequency
  • Tools for frequency management
  • DERs' impact on frequency
  • Challenges and how they are addressed (loss of visibility, supply variability, lack of inertia, and need for ride-through)
  • Potential benefits of DERs
• Impacts of DERs on voltage
  • Principles of managing voltage
  • Tools for voltage management
  • DERs' impact on voltage
  • Challenges and how they are addressed (lack of reactive power control, fluctuation in reactive flows, lack of visibility, and need for ride-through)
  • Potential benefits of DERs
• Impacts of DERs on protection
  • Principles of fault currents and protection
  • How DERs impact protection
  • Challenges and how they are addressed (unexpected fault currents, reverse flow)
• Impacts of DERs on resource adequacy
  • Principles of resource adequacy
  • Flexible resource adequacy
  • Challenges and how they are addressed (lack of visibility, net load curve changes, flexible capacity needs, fast growth rates)
  • Potential benefits of DERs
• Impacts of DERs on power flow
  • Principles of power flow analysis
  • Network models
  • Challenges and how they are addressed (inadequate data, insufficient modeling, unexpected power flows)