Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Research under competition

In 1998, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and what is now the Electric Power Group (EPG), initiated development of the Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) as the national laboratory/electricity industry partnership. in November 1998, DOE convened a workshop of leaders from all segments of the electricity industry for the purpose of defining the appropriate Federal role and agenda for electric reliability technology research under emerging competitive markets. This workshop brought into focus the inextricably linked relationship between efficient operation of competitive markets under restructuring, and the reliable operation of the electric power system. The general research needs identified were the collection and dissemination of real time information to operate markets and the power system, and an examination of the appropriate balance between ideal economic market mechanisms and traditional system operating practices. A third general research activity addresses the integration of distributed energy resources (distributed generation, energy storage, and demand-side management) into the electric distribution system, and into competitive markets. The research agenda and requirements developed by the Department working with CERTS and industry stakeholders clearly calls for a multi-disciplinary approach from experts in areas of electric power engineering, economics, regulation, computation, and communications.