This comprehensive program covers various aspects of energy storage procurement and strategies specifically tailored to the electric power industry. Participants in the course will gain a deep understanding of how utilities, load serving entities (LSEs) and commercial/industrial (C&I) customers design and administer RFPs and tenders to procure energy storage resources.
Energy storage procurement specialists — on both the buy and sell side — will gain insights from this overview of best practices and tools to obtain optimal outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify energy storage terms and conditions
- Describe a typical energy storage RFP procurement process
- Discuss energy storage resource procurement evaluation criteria
- Examine when it makes sense to include storage procurement in a more comprehensive all-source procurement process
- Construct a template for preparing and designing a storage procurement process
- Determine energy storage procurement response protocols
- Review energy storage project short-listing elements for negotiation
- Assess administrative elements of the procurement process
- Examine after-the-project-award energy storage procurement RFP actions
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Central Time
9:00 – 9:20 a.m. :: Overview & Introductions
9:20 – 10:30 a.m. :: Energy Storage Procurement Baseline for Electric Utilities, LSEs and C&I Users
- Overview of energy storage technologies and their roles in supporting the resilience and decarbonization of the electric power utility sector
- The role of RFPs in procuring energy storage solutions for utilities and commercial/industrial (C&I) users
- Scoping the challenges and opportunities in the utility-scale storage market
- Procurement objective – contracted storage or build-transfer assets?
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break
10:45 am – 12: 15 pm Energy Storage Technologies Applicable for Large-scale Procurement
- Classes of energy storage systems suitable for electric utilities
- Batteries
- Pumped hydro
- Compressed air
- Flywheels
- Other
- Comparative analysis of each technology’s characteristics, applications, and scalability
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. :: Assessing and Specifying the Storage Resources Required for Procurement in Utility and/or C&I Portfolios
- Estimating storage needs based on data growth trends and business requirements
- Internally within the procuring organization, agreeing on – and communicating – the objectives and requirements of storage procurement
1:45 – 3:00 p.m. :: Developing a Storage Procurement RFP/Tender
- Identify key components and considerations in crafting an effective energy storage RFP
- Identify key stakeholders and their input in the RFP process
- Define technical requirements, performance metrics, compliance criteria, and service-level agreements (SLAs) elements
- Outline and vet the eligible financing models, incentives, and revenue streams
- Evaluate storage costs beyond initial acquisition, including maintenance and operational (O&M) expenses
- Calculate total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI) for candidate storage solutions
- Scalability (augmentation) considerations for future growth and expansion
- Apply lifecycle expectations for storage systems to accommodate technology refresh cycles and end-of-life disposition
- Using above inputs, model least-cost and least-risk storage procurement solutions
- Differentiating between contracting storage resources as an off-taker vs. as an asset owner (including BOT/BTA)
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. :: Afternoon Break
3:15 – 4:45 p.m. :: Structuring an RFP Energy Storage Resource Procurement
- Formats
- Contract types and tenor
- Warranties
- Deliverability timelines
- Supply chain
- RFP package contents
- Bidders’ conference
- Evaluation (fairness) process plan and criteria
- Addressing supplier diversity
- Contract negotiations and execution
4:45 p.m. :: Course Adjourns for Day
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central Time
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. :: Energy Storage Resource Procurement Vendor Evaluation and Selection
- Establish criteria for selecting energy storage vendors best suited for (your) utility projects
- Define non-conforming bids
- Evaluate vendor track records, technology capabilities, and project references
- Conduct economic and financial analysis of RFP responses against model(s)
- Comparing ownership options to third-party PPAs
- Quantitative (price and terms) assessment
- Qualitative assessment
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: Energy Storage Resource Procurement Contracts and Negotiations
- Purchase vs. storage-as-a-service options
- Negotiations
- Contracting parties
- Managing operations
- Warranty guarantees
- Performance guarantees
- Clarity on differences in the RFP and negotiations
- Sorting out players and their legal responsibilities
- Solar-plus project lead developers
- Solar or storage partner
- Microgrid system partners
- EPC
- Utility
- Upstream partners
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. :: Energy Storage Resource Procurement Risk Assessment and Mitigation
- Identify potential risks associated with energy storage procurement and implementation
- Develop risk mitigation strategies to ensure project success
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. :: Afternoon Break
2:45 – 4:30 p.m. :: Energy Storage Resource Procurement Special Issues that Merit Evaluation
Emerging Trends in Energy Storage for Utilities
- Similarities and differences between renewable energy and storage procurement solicitations
- Solicitation distinctions between stand-alone vs. solar+storage solicitations
Lessons Learned
4:30 p.m. :: Course Adjournment
Andreas Sakellaris is Director of Emerging Technologies (East) at Customized Energy Solutions (CES). He joined the firm in 2023. Mr. Sakellaris has closed $1.5B worth of PPA transactions for power deals in 20 countries through Telkes, the energy advisory firm he founded. He previously worked for Holcim, Bain & Company, Schlumberger and energy start-ups Aqylon and LevelTen. Mr. Sakellaris has a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Princeton and a Master’s in Renewable Energy Science from Ecole Polytechnique.
Ashley Wald is a Partner in the law firm Holland & Hart LLP. She provides guidance to clients in the solar, wind, hydropower and natural gas industries as they develop energy projects and related infrastructure across the United States. She negotiates power purchase agreements on behalf of clients seeking to buy renewable power, including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives, and she is uniquely positioned to provide insights and strategic solutions based on her experience sitting on both sides of the negotiating table. In addition, Ms. Wald counsels clients in the purchase and sale of energy project assets and project companies.