ScottMadden, Inc., one of North America’s leading energy consulting firms, recently released its Fall Energy Industry Update. This report, widely read by industry leaders, will give you an insider’s perspective, distill recent events, and help you prepare for emerging trends that will shape our industry.

Our energy industry is evolving. It is a time of surprising developments and new ideas. Accordingly, this Update is themed “Generation to Generation: An Energy Evolution.” In it we examine the strategic drivers that are challenging, and propelling, our industry and what utilities are doing to anticipate, prepare for, and shape changing fundamentals. ScottMadden discusses a variety of topics, including:

• Competition at the Crossroads – FERC has attempted to find a price formation construct in competitive electric markets that provides long-term market stability. It is a difficult economic problem that, so far, evades a simple solution. What is the problem? What is causing it? What can be done?

• The Solar Trifecta and Dawn of “Smart Solar” – People complain about the challenges of grid operations as traditional solar scales up, and concerns, like duck curve impacts, peak-load ramping after solar peak, etc., are real. But is there a better way? Could “smart solar” actually help us manage the grid? What three things—the “solar trifecta”—could make this a reality? How will we know if a new era of smart solar is dawning for the electric grid?

• Distributed Energy Resources in Illinois – Illinois may be the best-kept secret in grid transformation. The state has laid an excellent foundation that positions it well for modernization of the grid and increasing penetrations of DERs and renewables. When DERs arrive at scale, the state will be ready. What is the current state of the electricity market in Illinois? How have legislative initiatives led to transformation in the electricity market? Have these initiatives resulted in a modernized grid and utilities that are flexible and ready for growth in DERs? 
  

“It is an amazing time in our industry. Our clients are taking challenges and turning them into opportunities. So, it is a great time to take a step back and look at the big picture. That is why we loved putting the Update together for the 10,000 industry leaders who receive it,” said Stuart Pearman, partner and energy practice leader at ScottMadden.

If you have not already registered, we encourage you to join ScottMadden and Energy Central for the interactive webcast, “ScottMadden’s Energy Industry Update – Generation to Generation: An Energy Evolution,” on Friday, November 3, 2017, from 1:00–2:00 PM EDT. During this free session, our industry experts will share their views and field questions related to changes to and potential solutions for FERC-regulated wholesale markets, the future of utility solar, and grid investment. Join us to hear from Cristin Lyons, partner and grid transformation practice leader at ScottMadden; Paul Quinlan, clean tech manager at ScottMadden; and Mr. Pearman. Mr. Pearman will also serve as the webcast moderator. Click here to register.