Project developers across the country are seeing the ripple effects of supply chain constraints squeezing both the solar and storage sectors. Multiple factors are contributing to the problem from upstream shortages in labor and equipment to more intermediate issues like transportation backlogs and the unavailability of shipping containers. On the storage side, developers have been experiencing tight supply conditions that make it difficult for them to access lithium-ion batteries.

Course attendees will learn how ongoing challenges, including constraints on imported battery elements, will continue to affect the pace of energy storage installations this year and next. This timely course addresses the battery conundrum, the correlation between storage and solar, the government’s role, contractual matters and much more.

Learning Outcomes

• Review the various project development scenarios and roles
• Discuss the conundrum of batteries keeping pace with the growing demand
• Examine the direct correlation between solar and energy storage
• Discuss the governments role in assisting with supply chain issues via recent Acts
• Examine the significant price increases for raw materials and other factors disrupting supply chains
• Discuss how to prepare for and mitigate supply chain disruptions
• Review key considerations regarding contracts including addressing supply chain issues

(includes short breaks throughout the day)

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. :: Opening Announcements

9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: Storage Supply Chain: Project Development/Solar/Governments Role

• Typical Project Development Scenarios and Roles
  • Project Developer
  • System Integrators
  • EPCs
    • Sourcing
    • Procurement
    • Logistics
  • Demand management
  • Risk management
  • Inventory management
  • Location and capacity

• The Battery Conundrum
  • Supply keeping pace with growing demand
  • Competition for battery materials
  • Understanding the complexities of the supply chain     

• The Correlation between Storage and Solar
  • A symbiotic relationship
  • Potential longer-term implications

• The Government’s Role
  • The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act     
  • CHIPS Act
  • Funding for mineral acquisition/development
  • Inflation Reduction Act
  • Training programs
  • Funding for electricity upgrades and resilience                             

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 4:15 p.m. :: Storage Supply Chain: Pricing/Policy/Disruptions/Contracts

• Pricing for Raw Materials
  • Disruptions from COVID, inflation
  • Significant price increases delaying storage deployments
  • Competition with EVs
  • Shipping and transportation

• Policy Issues
  • Policies that affect the utility
  • Storage as an efficiency measure
  • Existing policy and regulatory structures

• Preparing for and Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions
  • Strategies
  • Challenges and opportunities
  • Timelines

• Bottom Line – Impact of Supply Chain Conditions on Pricing
  • Existing contracts/PPAs
  • Projects under development

• Contractual Matters
  • Energy storage agreement
    • General contract structure – provisions
    • Key pitfalls
  • Interconnection agreement
    • Milestones
    • Key pitfalls
  • Resource adequacy obligations
    • Resource adequacy contracts
    • Forward capacity market commitments              
  • Contract price and schedule
  • Force majeure
  • Addressing supply chain issues
    • Impacts
    • Complications
    • Modifications

4:15 p.m. :: Program Adjourns

John Fernandes, Senior Consultant – Emerging Technologies, Customized Energy Solutions (CES)

John joined Customized Energy Solutions after nearly 5 years in the development, construction, and IPP sectors managing policy and creating new market opportunities across renewable, fossil, transmission, and energy storage business lines.  Prior to his time in the commercial space, John was on staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a regulatory manager for an investor-owned utility.  John has operated in every US wholesale energy market and has offered expertise in international markets, including Canada, the UK, Mexico, Australia, and Africa.  He has helped shaped policy for numerous states as well as the US Department of Energy.  John has an MBA from the University of Delaware, a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, and is a guest lecturer for the University of Colorado at Denver Global Energy Management Program.

---

Doug Houseman, Utility Modernization Lead, Burns & McDonnell

Doug Houseman is a long-time industry veteran who is a member of the Gridwise Architecture Council (GWAC), chair of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Intelligent Grid and Emerging Technology Coordinating Committee, and a NIST Resiliency Fellow. He has been working on storage issues since 1980, when he was involved with several DOD projects.

---

Nic Gladd, Partner, Pierce Atwood LLP

Mr. Gladd represents clients in complex transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters spanning the energy industry. Nic is experienced in structuring and negotiating commercial agreements for energy projects and operating assets, counseling on power market design and cost-of-service ratemaking, and representing clients before administrative agencies and appellate courts. Nic has advised clients on over 40 energy and infrastructure transactions, representing more than $25 billion in capital. He has advised clients nationally on energy storage matters involving RTOs/ISOs, FERC, state public utilities commissions, and municipalities. Before private practice, he held several high-level positions at FERC, including serving as legal advisor to FERC Chairman Kevin J. McIntyre, for whom he oversaw FERC’s landmark energy storage rulemaking, Order No. 841. Prior to joining Chairman McIntyre’s staff, Nic was a litigation attorney in FERC’s Solicitors Office, where he defended FERC in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and in U.S. district courts.