FERC explores issues on integrating more renewables into grid

• 14 years ago (2010-01-29)
• David Flin

North America 998 Renewables 751

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FERC issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI), seeking public comment on whether to revise any of its standardised rules or procedures governing the operation of the transmission grid in order to eliminate barriers to the efficient integration of VERs.

VERs may require special consideration because they are variable fuel sources, and so far lack the baseload generation capabilities typical of fossil fuel resources. FERC has to work with utilities, transmission system operators and other stakeholders to ensure a thorough review of the grid’s capacity to handle these new variable resources. Not surprisingly, there are a range of economic and technical implications that must be reviewed to ensure the reliability of the grid.

Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of FERC, said: “We are seeing a rapid expansion in the use of renewable energy technologies around the country that have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electricity costs for consumers. To accommodate that expansion, it is our job to ensure that FERC has in place the market and operational reforms necessary to ensure that all wholesale electricity tariffs are just, reasonable and not unduly discriminatory.”

While FERC has already implemented some procedures to allow grid access for rapidly growing wind generation, the agency has acknowledged that some of its existing open access rulemakings, along with the existing pro forma Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), were not necessarily designed to accommodate VERs, and must be revisited.