Grid Modernization: Integrating Solar Energy

Solar is evolving quickly in Midwestern states, with regulators and policy-makers taking different approaches to fostering or integrating solar development. Distributed solar and utility-scale solar are both elements of the modern grid, but with substantially different markets, distinct risks and opportunities, and technological synergies. The MGA hosted a series focusing on the Midwest’s solar opportunities, benefits of different types of solar deployment, the market and policy landscape, and lessons learned that can be applied to future electric system innovations.

Grid Modernization: Integrating Solar Energy Meeting

March 15-16, 2017
St. Paul, Minnesota

Speaker Handouts:

Webinars

In the lead-up to the summit, the MGA hosted a series of webinars to highlight critical components of the topic.

February 7, 2017

State Policy Options

The webinar different policies incent or different types of solar development, and different types of solar development present significantly different value propositions that affect grid modernization priorities and design. Policy makers and commissions have taken different approaches with different results.

Presentation

January 10, 2017

Economic & Workforce Development Opportunities

The webinar will explore options for states to take advantage of a new and growing market—solar manufacturing and installation—accompanied by workforce development opportunities and challenges.

December 6, 2016

Consumer Perspectives

Business and residential customers can have very different perspectives on solar energy and customer demands are changing quickly. Some businesses are including access to solar and other renewable energy in their siting decision-making, or investigating resiliency benefits of on-site solar plus storage.

November 15, 2016

Solar 101

This webinar lays out solar basics including different market niches of utility scale solar PV, rooftop solar PV, community solar, and solar thermal; costs and benefits associated with each and the role of solar in grid modernization.

October 25, 2016

Introductory Webinar

Solar energy is not one energy technology but rather many technologies that deliver different types of benefits and present different challenges to the electric system and markets. This webinar allows for participant input for the other webinar topics.

Presentation