Resource adequacy is crucial for maintaining grid reliability and ensuring that the energy supply is available when needed. As the energy sector evolves, with increasing reliance on renewable energy, distributed energy resources, and advanced storage technologies, ensuring resource adequacy has become more challenging—and more important—than ever.

At Econ One, we help utilities, grid operators, regulators, and developers evaluate the adequacy of their resources to meet both current and future energy needs. Whether assessing the capacity of existing assets, exploring generation capacity expansion, or integrating energy storage and/or renewable resources, we provide actionable insights and in-depth analysis to assist our clients in enhancing their energy strategy.  We use cutting-edge modeling techniques to perform a detailed analysis of our clients’ energy resources.

Our approach involves:

• Capacity Accreditation: Assessing and validating the effective capacity contribution of resources, including renewable energy (solar, wind), energy storage, and conventional generation. We analyze how resources perform under different conditions and assess their contribution to meeting peak demand and maintaining grid reliability.
• Adequacy Measures: Evaluating the adequacy of the energy supply system by measuring reserve margins, reliability metrics, and capacity performance. Our analyses ensure that our clients’ systems can withstand unexpected events (e.g., extreme weather, equipment failures) without compromising reliability.
• Scenario Analysis: Using advanced simulations to model various scenarios, we assess how different resource mixes, system configurations, and external factors (such as weather variability, fuel supply disruptions, or market volatility) affect resource adequacy. We help our clients plan for the most challenging scenarios to ensure continued reliability.
• Optimization of Energy Assets: By analyzing different asset configurations and market conditions, we maximize the efficiency and value of energy resources. Our models optimize resource dispatch, identify opportunities for cost savings, and improve overall asset performance across diverse market environments.

Our services include:

Comprehensive Resource Adequacy Assessments

We provide in-depth assessments to evaluate whether our clients’ energy resources are sufficient to meet forecasted demand reliably. This includes an analysis of capacity to handle peak loads, load forecasting, long-term load growth, and unexpected disruptions. Our assessment helps identify gaps in the resource mix and offers recommendations for addressing them.

Capacity Accreditation and Performance Analysis

We assess the actual contribution of various generation resources—especially intermittent ones like wind and solar—to system reliability. Through capacity credit measures such as Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC), we provide insights into how these resources can best be integrated into the broader energy system. This analysis helps determine whether assets are being fully optimized for grid stability.

Reserve Margin and System Reliability Evaluations

We calculate and evaluate reserve margins—the extra capacity available to meet demand during peak periods or unforeseen contingencies. We use reliability metrics such as Loss of Load Probability (LOLP), Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE), and Expected Unserved Energy (EUE) to quantify the risk of supply shortages and help ensure the reliability of the grid under various stress conditions.

Financial Impact Analysis of Resource Planning Decisions

We analyze the financial implications of various potential addition and retirement decisions, including the potential costs of overbuilding versus the risks of underbuilding. Our analysis helps clients make informed decisions about the most cost-effective and resilient strategies for expanding generation capacity or upgrading infrastructure.

Market and Policy Impact Analysis

Energy markets and policies are evolving rapidly. We assess how market prices, incentives, and regulatory requirements (such as carbon pricing or renewable energy targets) affect resource adequacy. Our insights clarify the influence external factors have on the performance and resilience of a system.

Simulation Analysis

Relying uniquely on historical data for impactful inputs such as the availability of renewable generation does not make for a robust resource adequacy analysis. To ensure that the analysis provides insightful and reliable results, we use historical data on system loads, wind and solar availabilities, and thermal outages to simulate any number of synthetic time series to use as inputs into our analysis.