This report from the National Energy Screening Project, released in August 2020, is intended to help guide the development of “cost-effectiveness tests” for more robust benefit-cost analyses (BCAs) of distributed energy resources (DERs). It sets out a systematic approach for gauging investment cost-effectiveness by consistently and comprehensively comparing the benefits and costs of individual or multiple types of DERs against each other and with alternative energy resources. The research will be of interest to those involved in energy policy, smart grid development, and protocols and standards.
Key words: protocols/standards, smart grid, energy management, intelligent buildings, distributed energy resources, benefit-cost analysis, utilities