Thursday 29 September 2011

Electric industry making great strides integrating wind and solar


ISO/RTO Council Releases Briefing Paper on Variable Energy Resources

TORONTOAug. 30, 2011 /CNW/ - The ISO/RTO Council today released a briefing paper on Variable Energy Resources, System Operations and Wholesale Markets. This paper looks at the efforts being made by independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs) to integrate variable energy resources.
Renewable resources - primarily wind and solar - are the resources most likely to fulfill the objectives of state and provincial renewable energy targets, feed-in tariff programs, as well as national and regional climate policy goals.
The variable nature of these resources is prompting changes in market design and system operations. Conventional electricity generating resources are relatively stable, schedulable and controllable, and markets and system operating procedures were originally designed around these characteristics. Effectively and reliably integrating variable resources has spurred the industry to develop new approaches, new processes and new tools.
"As an industry we are making great strides in harnessing the power of variable energy resources," said Paul Murphy, President and CEO of Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and 2011-2012 Chair of the ISO/RTO Council. "Effectively integrating this new supply is a long-term process that requires us to refine our respective systems, modify our operating procedures, and make adjustments to our markets for energy, operating reserve and ancillary services."
The briefing paper is available on the IRC website at http://www.isorto.org/atf/cf/%7b5B4E85C6-7EAC-40A0-8DC3-003829518EBD%7d/IRC_VER-BRIEFING_PAPER-AUGUST_2011.PDF. A more comprehensive paper has been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and is available at http://www.isorto.org/site/c.jhKQIZPBImE/b.4344503/k.83C1/FERC_Filings.htm.
The ISO/RTO Council (IRC) is an industry organization consisting of representatives from independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs) across North America. In aggregate, the 10 member organizations serve two-thirds of electricity consumers in the United States and more than half of Canada's population. The IRC works collaboratively to develop effective processes, tools, and standard methods for improving competitive electricity markets across North America. Its goal is to balance reliability considerations with market practices, resulting in efficient, robust markets that provide competitive and reliable service to electricity users.

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