2026 Event Schedule

As distributed energy resources (DERs) proliferate, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) offer significant affordability, grid‑edge flexibility, and reliability benefits. This panel explores how coordinated DER control enhances distribution system reliability and resilience through strategies such as dynamic dispatch, microgrid islanding, and real‑time optimization. Featuring research, utility, and technology experts, the session addresses how VPPs can meet emerging reliability standards, provide flexible grid support, and overcome operational challenges.

Speakers will highlight real-world utility deployments and DER Management System (DERMS) projects demonstrating measurable reliability improvements. For example, Virginia’s new Community Energy Act directing Dominion Energy’s 450-MW VPP pilot will provide peak-shaving and other grid services starting in 2026. Green Mountain Power’s 50‑MW home‑battery VPP in Vermont is already saving about $3 million annually by shaving ISO‑NE peaks, and Vermont Electric Cooperative’s 3 MW/12 MWh battery provided flexibility during the record July 2024 peak, reducing congestion costs. The discussion will emphasize the operational readiness to deliver dispatchable capacity and voltage/frequency support which is critical for high-DER feeders and address regulatory and interoperability challenges under IEEE P2030.14 and IEEE 1547-2018, which provide frameworks for effective VPP operation and DER coordination. A Brattle Group study estimates that scaling residential VPPs to 60 GW could meet future resource adequacy needs at a net savings of $15–35 billion versus conventional alternatives. 

Aligned with DistribuTECH’s mission of enhancing reliability and resilience through grid modernization, this session showcases DER innovations essential to strengthening distribution networks.

 
Learning Objectives:

• Identify tthe key grid reliability challenges from high DER penetration and opportunities that arise with the integration of VPPs.
• Understand how aggregated DERs & VPPs can relieve distribution congestion while delivering local grid services (voltage support, peak shaving, backup power).
• Evaluate the role of emerging standards (such as IEEE P2030.14) in utility efforts to integrate DERs for reliability enhancement.
• Examine lessons learned from real-world case studies of DER coordination and VPP implementations that have improved distribution network reliability and mitigated outages. 

Panel Speakers: 

• Moderator – Ryan Quint
  • Organization: Elevate
• Speaker – Purvasha Das
  • Organization: Dominion Energy
  • Title: From DERMS to Dispatchability: Dominion’s Reliability Roadmap
• Speaker – Cyril Brunner
  • Organization: Vermont Electric Cooperative
  • Title: Near Real-Time Power Flows to Optimize DER
• Speaker – Kumarsinh Jhala
  • Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
  • Title: Congestion Management Solutions for Distribution System Operations with VPPs