The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to develop a suite of new or modified reliability standards that comprehensively address inverter-based resources data sharing, model validation, planning and operational studies, and performance requirements.
NERC must file the new or revised standards in tranches, with each tranche due no later than November 4 of each of the next three years.
NERC also has 90 days to submit to the Commission an informational filing that includes a detailed, comprehensive standards development and implementation plan.
IBRs use power electronic devices to change the direct current power produced by generators into alternating current power that is then transmitted on the bulk electric system. In certain cases, these resources respond to grid disturbances differently from traditional generation resources such as hydropower, nuclear, coal or natural gas plants.
Most mandatory reliability standards were developed for traditional generation resources, so today’s final rule is important to ensure IBRs support reliability in the same manner as traditional generation resources.
In a related reliability matter, the Commission accepted NERC’s 2024 budget, saying it is reasonable and that the associated costs of NERC’s jurisdictional functions are allocated equitably among end users in the U.S.
