Distributed Capacity Procurement: Scaling DERs to Meet the Next Wave of Demand

Utilities, developers, and energy buyers are all grappling with the same problem: how do we bring on reliable capacity quickly, in the right places, without overbuilding? Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) can deliver speed and flexibility but have long been dismissed as too fragmented to solve system-wide challenges. A new approach, Distributed Capacity Procurement (DCP), changes that. Through transparent, competitive procurement, utilities can deploy DERs at scale to meet resource adequacy needs, avoid stranded infrastructure, and unlock local supply to support new demands like data center integration. This session will highlight key considerations: planning and evaluation frameworks, equity safeguards, and ensuring distributed assets support long-term reliability. Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of how DCP could reshape market opportunities for distributed energy and accelerate deployment to meet fast-growing grid demand.