Enabling a Shared Integrated Grid via New England Energy Water Nexus

The electric power system is rapidly decarbonizing with variable renewable energy resources (VREs) to mitigate rising climate change resources and rising climate change concerns. There are, however, fundamental VRE penetration limits that can only be lifted with the complementary integration of flexible demand-side resources. A recent study has shown that flexible energy-water resources can serve such a role, provide much needed operating reserves and cost- effectively reduce power system imbalances. The implementation of such demand-side resources necessitates a “shared integrated grid” that is characterized by: 1) integral social and retail market engagement from individual electricity consumers; 2.) the digitization of energy resources through the energy internet of things (eIoT); and 3) community level coordination. This paper discusses the efforts of Dartmouth College and the City of Lebanon, NH, and Liberty Utilities to develop such a shared integrated grid. It leverages the newly passed New Hampshire municipal aggregation bill (SB 286). The goal is to ultimately develop a prototype transactive energy (TE) market that enables Lebanon residents to trade carbon-free electricity products and services amongst themselves.