Dunsky to Support IESO in Identifying DER Potential in Ontario

Dunsky is pleased to announce that it has been retained by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to conduct the province’s first ever Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Potential Study. The study will assess the types and volumes of DERs likely to emerge in Ontario over the next decade. Specifically, the study will help the IESO identify the DER technologies most relevant to the Ontario context, the value they can bring to the system, their projected pace of market adoption under a variety of scenarios, and the most appropriate way to harness their potential.

“We are excited to support the IESO in their efforts to transform Ontario’s electricity market” said Philippe Dunsky, President of Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors. “Our team’s focus on strategic, value-driven analysis will aim to pinpoint the true value and potential for DERs to help the IESO ensure a stable, efficient and decarbonized power grid.”

Across all North American markets, customers, utilities, grid operators and service providers are increasingly adopting or investing in DERs to meet on-site electricity needs, fulfill emerging grid needs (i.e., non-wires solutions) and provide wholesale market services (i.e., capacity, energy and ancillary services). As the market operator and planner responsible for meeting Ontario’s resource adequacy needs, the IESO sees significant opportunities with DER adoption.

With nearly 5,000 MW of DERs already deployed in Ontario, the IESO has made – and continues to make – changes to better integrate DERs into markets. This study will inform the future market enhancement efforts and other activities to enable and optimize the full value of DERs in Ontario. The study is scheduled for completion by mid-2022.

In the past five years, Dunsky has conducted over 20 DER potential studies across the United States and Canada, supporting clients to identify market barriers and opportunities and to define realistic potential assessments. Dunsky is pleased to be partnering with Power Advisory on this project to offer the IESO our combined teams’ experience and knowledge in assessing the value of DERs in Ontario.

About Dunsky

Founded in 2004, Dunsky supports leading governments, utilities and others across North America in their efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition, effectively and responsibly. Working across the buildings, renewable energy and clean mobility sectors, we support our clients through three key services: we assess opportunities (technical, economic, market); design strategies (programs, plans, policies); and evaluate performance (with a view to continuous improvement).