RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group (UVIG) has released an updated version of a summary table detailing markets and market rules for variable generation (VG) in North America.
Capturing the state of markets as of March 2015, the document is the third update of a table first issued in December 2004. This year, solar energy was added to the table in recognition of the significant growth in installed solar power capacity. The table was also reorganized and streamlined to improve readability and to enable comparison and contrast between the entities profiled in the table. UVIG appreciates the financial and technical support of the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electric Delivery and Reliability.
Some of the major findings are that every Regional Transmission Organization, Independent System Operator (ISO), Transmission System Operator (TSO) and utility in North America that is integrating a large amount of wind power is using wind plant output forecasts to improve the reliable and economic operation of their system; solar power forecasts are not as prevalent, but some of these same entities are experimenting with solar power forecasting; wind generation is increasingly being required to follow dispatch signals at short time intervals; and a small but growing number of requirements for variable generation to provide or be capable of providing different types of grid support services, such as frequency response and inertial response, are being seen.
The document was compiled by Kevin Porter and Kevin Starr of Exeter Associates with UVIG participation and LBNL support, based on a survey covering PJM Interconnection, the New York Independent System Operator, ISO New England, the Ontario Independent System Operator, Midwest ISO, Southwest Power Pool, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, California Independent System Operator, Alberta Electric System Operator, Bonneville Power Administration, Public Service Company of Colorado (a subsidiary of Xcel Energy), Arizona Public Service, PacifiCorp, and Puget Sound Electric. The table presents responses to a number of questions, with the more important ones noted below:
- Scheduling in Energy Markets: How is wind energy scheduled and procured?
- Imbalance Settlement: How are energy imbalances settled – either through a balancing market or another settlement procedure?
- Ancillary Services Market Structure: How and what type of ancillary serves are procured, at what timeframe, and how are costs allocated?
- Eligibility of VG to Provide Ancillary Services: Can VG provide up or down regulation? Can VG provide frequency response or inertial response?
- Description of VG Forecasts: What types of VG forecasts are prepared and at what time frames? What tools and techniques are used?
- VG Forecast Utilization: How are VG forecasts used?
- Determination of Capacity Value for VG: How is the capacity value or capacity credit for VG plants calculated?
- VG Power Management: Are ramp limits or other restrictions imposed on VG under certain circumstances?
- Incorporation of VG into System Dispatch/AGC: Is VG incorporated into system dispatch, and if so, under what conditions?
The document can be downloaded at http://uvig.org/resources/
Formerly known as the Utility Wind Integration Group, the Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group (UVIG) was established in 1989 to provide a forum for the critical analysis of wind technology for utility applications and to serve as a source of credible information on the status of wind technology and deployment. The group’s current mission is to accelerate the development and application of good engineering and operational practices supporting the appropriate integration of wind and solar power for utility applications through the coordinated efforts and actions of its members, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, its National Renewable Energy Laboratory and utility research organizations. UVIG is an international organization with over 180 members from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, including investor-owned, public power, and rural electric cooperative utilities; transmission system operators, corporate members; and associate member government and academic organizations.
