Distributed energy resources are everywhere. For rooftop solar, batteries, EV chargers, and flexible loads, adoption continues to accelerate across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. But deployment alone does not equal integration.
The real challenge facing the grid today is not installing DERs, it’s coordinating them effectively.
At the heart of that challenge is data.
DERs Without Data Are Just Assets
DERs only become grid resources when they can be measured, monitored, and controlled. Without accurate, timely data, grid operators cannot rely on them, markets cannot compensate them, and aggregators cannot optimize them.
Data enables:
- Asset visibility
- Performance verification
- Market participation
- Forecasting and dispatch
- Settlement and compliance
In short, data is what turns physical equipment into a functional part of the energy system.
The Growing Complexity of DER Data
As DER participation expands, so does data complexity. Different asset types generate different telemetry. Market rules define unique data requirements. Regional grids enforce varying standards for performance, latency, and verification.
This creates friction for developers and asset owners. Knowing what data is required is often as challenging as collecting it. Knowing how that data will be used and monetized adds another layer of complexity.
Technology platforms that normalize, validate, and contextualize DER data are becoming just as important as the hardware itself.
Technology as an Enabler, Not an Add-On
Too often, technology is treated as an afterthought, something layered on once assets are deployed. In reality, technology must be foundational.
Modern DER integration depends on:
- Standardized data models
- Automated validation and quality checks
- Market-aligned telemetry pipelines
- Scalable analytics
Without these capabilities, DERs struggle to meet market participation requirements or deliver consistent performance.
The result? Missed revenue opportunities and increased operational risk.
Why Data-Driven Integration Matters Now
Grid operators are increasingly relying on DERs to provide capacity, flexibility, and resilience. That reliance requires confidence; confidence that assets will respond when called upon and perform as expected.
Data is how that confidence is built.
For developers and aggregators, investing in data infrastructure early can dramatically simplify future market participation. It also creates flexibility to pivot as rules change and new opportunities emerge.
Recommended Reading on DER Data and Technology
For a deeper exploration of why technology and data are now central to DER integration, we recommend PV Magazine’s article, “Data is power: Why technology is the backbone of DER integration.”
Written by CEO of DECH, Richard Zdunkewicz, it provides an excellent overview of how data connects DERs to markets and why it’s becoming non-negotiable.
As the grid continues to modernize, data will be the common language that connects assets, markets, and operators. Those who treat it as core infrastructure — not overhead — will move faster, scale easier, and capture more value.
