This report provides guidance on the use of “group studies,” an emerging practice to streamline the interconnection of distributed energy resources (DERs)—such as solar PV, community solar, and energy storage—to the electric distribution grid.

IREC’s Model Interconnection Procedures, 2023 includes the latest best practices to enable faster and less costly interconnection of DERs, while maintaining safety and reliability.

This webinar features a presentation and panel discussion exploring key findings from IREC’s newly released Freeing the Grid report, which graded U.S. states on the quality of their interconnection policies.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1547™-2018 Standard (IEEE 1547-2018) is a technical standard that establishes how distributed energy resources (DERs)—like solar and energy storage—can connect to the grid. In particular, it establishes interconnection requirements for smart inverters, which have advanced “grid support” functions that can help the grid accommodate higher levels of renewable energy. IREC’s IEEE 1547-2018 Adoption Tracker provides regulators, utility staff, and other DER stakeholders with visibility into which jurisdictions have adopted the IEEE 1547-2018 standard.

IEEE 1547-2018 is a technical standard that establishes how distributed energy resources (DERs)—like solar and energy storage—can connect to the grid. In particular, it establishes interconnection requirements for smart inverters, whose advanced “grid support” functions can help the grid accommodate higher levels of renewable energy. This checklist can help regulators, utility staff, and other DER stakeholders navigate the key decisions they need to make in order to align interconnection rules with IEEE 1547-2018.

This paper reviews the process for connecting electric vehicle (EV) chargers to the grid, lists the challenges faced by third-party EV charging station (EVCS) developers, and identifies options for addressing these challenges through new policies and practices at the state, local, and utility levels.

IREC and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) partnered to release a report to identify best practices for producing trusted, validated HCA results reflecting real-world grid conditions. Access the presentation slides and watch the informational webinar that was hosted on May 10, 2022.