FERC takes steps on ancillary services to smooth renewables’ system integration

摘要

Seeking more ways to ensure that intermittent renewable nenergy resources have fair access to transmission and power nmarkets, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has pro-nposed a rule requiring line operators to offer ancillary service nto generators. Renewables plants, for their part, would provide nmore forecasting and operational data to grid operators.nCalling it a foundational step, Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said nthe proposed rule would require changes that “prepare the electric ngrid for the future.” The rule would “help to operate the transmis-nsion system more efficiently and reliably, which should contain nthe cost to customers of buying transmission service,” he said.nThe reforms are intended to remove barriers to the integra-ntion of variable energy resources such as wind and solar, and to nensure the costs of services to integrate them are just and rea-nsonable, staff said in a presentation to the commission.