Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • Monthly Snapshots
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • 2021 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
  • Leadership
    • Vote for the 2022 Leaders!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners

Advanced Energy releases guide to help corporations procure renewable energy

By Kelsey Misbrener | April 18, 2019

Share

Of the more than 15 gigawatts of corporate renewable energy deals done to date, less than 2 GW have occurred through utility programs, with the vast majority of power purchase agreements occurring in states that have competitive wholesale markets. A new report from the Advanced Energy Buyers Group, a business-led coalition of large energy users, explains how states with vertically integrated electricity markets can unlock the many benefits of corporate renewable energy procurement.

Released today, the report, “Renewable Energy Offerings that Work for Companies: A Practical Guide to Meeting Corporate Renewable Energy Demand in Vertically Integrated Markets,” outlines six steps for states to follow as well as replicable best practices for both utility offerings and competitive market access, with examples taken from states across the country.

“While it’s true that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution that can be directly copied and pasted for use by all utilities in every state, there are a lot of lessons to draw on when developing new solutions,” said Caitlin Marquis, director at Advanced Energy Economy, a national business group that facilitates the Advanced Energy Buyers Group. “States with vertically integrated markets are at a disadvantage in attracting corporations with sustainability commitments, but they don’t have to start from scratch in figuring out how to give these corporate buyers access to the renewable energy they want.”

The guide distills the process of developing new advanced energy options into six simple steps:

  • Seek advice and input from customers, industry, and other states;
  • Determine which approaches align best with your state and/or utility circumstances;
  • Account for the different needs of different customers—including nonparticipants;
  • Adopt replicable best practices;
  • Guide customers through the decision and enrollment process; and
  • Review, iterate and improve.

The guide also dives deeply into step four (adopting replicable best practices) by providing examples — good and bad — of existing state programs from across the country. These include examples from states that have enacted retail choice or direct access (a form of retail choice limited to a certain subset of customers, generally large commercial and industrial customers) in the areas of customer protection, customer control, program size, customer eligibility, transition costs, duration and renewable energy requirements. The guide also explores best practices for utility renewable energy programs (often called green tariffs), on rate structures, program caps and expansion, customer eligibility, resource selection, term options, renewable energy certificate (REC) treatment, program fees and termination provisions.

For states that want to unlock the economic benefits of renewable energy options for corporate customers but don’t know where to start, and for states or utilities that have begun exploring opportunities and want to hone in on the best approach, the Advanced Energy Buyers Group’s practical guide offers a roadmap for action.

News item from the Advanced Energy Buyers Group

About The Author

Kelsey Misbrener

Kelsey is managing editor of Solar Power World and host of the Contractor's Corner podcast.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

NineDot Energy unveils 12.32-MWh Tesla Megapack storage project in the Bronx
Generac PWRcell battery systems can now be AC-coupled to third-party inverters
FranklinWH battery systems on approved vendor list for Mosaic and Goodleap
Greenskies Clean Focus completes solar project for New Jersey community college

SPW Digital Editions

Solar Power World Digital EditionBrowse the current issue and archived issues of Solar Power World in an easy-to-use, high-quality format. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading solar construction magazine today.

Contractor's Corner Podcast

July 25, 2022
Contractor's Corner: Built Well Solar
See More >

Solar Policy Snapshot

Solar policy differs across state lines and regions. Click to see our monthly roundup of recent legislation and research throughout the country.

Read More >

Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Top Products
  • Leadership
  • About/Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • WTWH Media

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • Monthly Snapshots
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • 2021 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
  • Leadership
    • Vote for the 2022 Leaders!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners