Earthjustice has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on behalf of SEIA, challenging a rule prohibiting renewable energy from providing ancillary services. Auxiliary services help grid operators maintain a reliable power system, balance supply and demand, ensure reliability during extreme weather events, and recover the system after power system outages.
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) is the only FERC jurisdictional grid operator that explicitly prohibits wind, solar and battery hybrid resources from providing ancillary services. MISO serves 45 million people in 15 states and Manitoba. The amount of energy produced from wind and solar is expected to increase significantly in the He MISO region in the coming years. Hybrid resources of wind, solar and battery have proven to be able to provide ancillary services. A temporary ban was enacted by MISO in 2011 and was never reconsidered. The complaint seeks to lift this blanket ban.
“Regional transmission authorities should not limit the services renewables can provide,” said Earthjustice attorney Aaron Stemplwitz. “FERC must mandate MISO to reform its current tariffs and commercial practice manuals to ensure full and equitable participation of wind and solar resources in MISO’s wholesale market. We oppose any attempt to deprive wind, solar, and battery hybrid resources of their ability to provide lamp functionality, and oppose any setbacks as to their eligibility to provide the full range of services that renewable resources can provide. It will be a tough challenge.”
Ancillary services are a key factor in ensuring the stability and reliability of the power grid as well as enabling the integration of variable output renewable energy sources. By enabling wind, solar, and battery hybrid resources, known as dispatchable intermittent resources, to be eligible to provide supplementary services, reducing overall system costs and resilience of the grid to extreme weather and climate disasters. Increase reliability and resilience.
“For the past decade, MISO has discriminated against renewable generators. It is time for FERC to set its record straight and give renewables a fair chance,” said Energy Markets Director and Advisor at SEIA. says Melissa Alfano. “In fact, the grid is changing and energy markets will have to catch up. If we want to carbonize, we need to be aware of the full range of their benefits.”
MISO also intends to file a request with FERC to remove qualification for renewable resource lamp functions. Lamp capacity refers to the power system’s ability to rapidly increase or decrease output to meet changes in power demand. Lamp shortages are the most common cause of short-term shortages and price spikes.
Notice from SEIA