Ep 1: Unlocking the Potential of Distributed Energy Resources

CLEAResult Energetics launches the Flexible Grid Technologies Webinar Series, a monthly series for utilities, regulators, and state energy offices on the front lines of the energy transition. Episode 1: Unlocking the Potential of Distributed Energy Resources tackles the most urgent question in energy right now, so how do we meet exploding grid demand without breaking the rate base? Power prices on the largest U.S. grid jumped 76% in Q1 2026. Data center demand is on track to nearly triple by 2030. And over 2,060 gigawatts of generation and storage are stuck in the interconnection queue. ----------------------------------- Featuring Jigar Shah Former DOE Loan Programs Office Director. Deployed $108B in clean energy financing. 2024 Time 100. Co-founder of Multiplier, founder of SunEdison. Wyeth Atchison Senior Growth Director, CLEAResult. Expert in demand response, DERs, and virtual power plants. Bob Gemmer CLEAResult Energetics. 45+ years in industrial energy and combined heat and power. Former DOE. Kiran Srivastava (Host) Senior Director, CLEAResult Energetics. ----------------------------------- This episode answers the questions utilities, regulators, and state energy offices are asking right now: What is the single biggest pressure point on the grid, and what happens to rates and reliability if we don't address it? What does a DER strategy that works look like for a utility operating under real regulatory and budget constraints? How does faster DER deployment break the cycle of rising rates and translate to lower costs for customers? What does it take to turn industrial self-generation into a reliable, dispatchable grid asset, and why has that potential remained largely untapped? Which DERs are most valuable under different grid conditions, and how do they work together? What is the most common mistake utilities make in program design, and what does getting it right look like? What is the single most important action utilities, regulators, or state energy offices should take in the next 12 months? ----------------------------------- Links Learn more about CLEAResult Energetics: https://www.clearesult.com/insights/t... Follow CLEAResult Energetics on LinkedIn:   / energetics   ----------------------------------- Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:09 Webinar start 1:32 Speaker introductions 4:02 Setting the stage — grid pressure points 10:38 DERs as the answer — building a DER strategy 17:42 DERs as the answer — rate affordability 20:26 DERs as the answer — industrial self-generation 23:58 Program design & policy — DER value by grid condition 33:08 Program design & policy — common mistakes in program design 43:00 Looking ahead — the one action to take now 46:21 Live Q&A ----------------------------------- About the Series Flexible Grid Technologies is a monthly webinar series hosted by CLEAResult Energetics for utilities, regulators, and state energy offices exploring how distributed energy resources can be practically deployed to manage load growth, improve grid reliability, and lower costs for customers.