Distributed Energy Resource Innovation Initiative
The Distributed Energy Resource Innovation Initiative (DERII) is a first-of-its kind research platform for electric utility-university engagement. DERII seeks to drive utility business-model innovation and clean energy deployment through a research-informed collaborative technology accelerator with Great River Energy (GRE) and its member cooperatives. DERII’s engaged research approach will build iterative research , peer learning, and real-time observation of DER programs to support a rural energy transition.
The main research question of DERII is How do cooperatives innovate projects, programs, and policies over time and across scales that leverage distributed energy resources to drive a rural energy transition?
In Fall 202 and Spring 2023, ECIC researchers embarked on the planning phase of DERII to develop input to inform co-ops’ processes and best practices for integration of distributed energy resources. During the planning phase, ECIC is conducting interviews with GRE staff and member co-op CEOs and holding focus groups with co-op staff to develop input and insights for the next stages of the research partnership.
