TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF FORECASTING DERS

SPIDER accurately forecasts DER adoption and demand impacts to facilitate distribution planning. Custom-tailored for your unique needs, SPIDER integrates all DERs into a single spatial and temporal forecast model that explicitly addresses uncertainty and risk.
SPIDER™ (Spatial Penetration and Integration of Distributed Energy Resources) permits rapid, accurate, granular DER adoption & impact forecasts to facilitate both distribution and system-level planning – with explicit integration of uncertainty & risk.

Accurate

  • Proven, vetted methodology developed by a team with 15 years of experience modeling DER adoption for electric utilities, commissions, NREL and the U.S. D.O.E
  • Flexible spatial resolution that balances computational needs with data availability and inherent uncertainty, avoiding the trap of "false precision"
  • Spatial, temporal forecasts at the feeder, substation, or ZIP Code level, as desired
  • Auto-calibrates in a couple of hours (for a mid-size utility) with updated data, ensuring that forecasts are never stale

customized

  • Model is custom-tailored to meet your evolving needs
  • Prevents being shackled to a one-size-fits-all “solution” 
  • Seamlessly integrates with legacy data, maximizing flexibility
  • Optional development of customized DER-tracking database (from application through approval)

Transparent & Visual

  • Unparalleled transparency through a visual, icon-based platform (a stark contrast with most "black box" models)
  • Visually compare historical adoption with simulated back-casts, adding confidence to the forecast and improving buy-in
  • Easily inspect every model input, output, and intermediate variable in both chart and table format
  • Quickly test multiple scenarios and run what-if analyses
  • Seamlessly integrates with Tableau for advanced data visualization and mapping

integrated risk analysis

  • Integrates any combination of solar PV, battery storage, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and demand response into a single forecast
  • Model structure and calibration techniques inherently account for DER interactions and correlations
  • Addresses uncertainty and planning risk using Monte Carlo simulation

rigorous

  • DER economics and demand impacts respond to any electric rate structure (TOU, demand charges, etc.)
  • Mixed-integer programming permits simulating hourly or sub-hourly dispatch optimization (e.g., for storage systems)
  • Responds to historical (for calibration) and forecast changes to electric rates, system costs, incentives, tax credits, etc.

Multiple delivery options

Model usage is dictated by your unique needs. Options include:

  • Desktop Application - Maximum control for the end user
  • Software as a Service (SaaS) - Secure web interface hosted on scalable cloud computing
  • Forecasting as a Service (FaaS) - Regularly updated by Lumidyne staff
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“Cory Welch is a Grandmaster in the art and science of creating credible decision models that bring real insight. He is one of the very best in the business.”

Max Henrion, PhD - CEO, Lumina Decision Systems