Fast Regulating Reserve Pilot Project

Key Dates & Materials

July 19, 2024 | Deadline for EOIs to be submitted

July 15, 2024 | Deadline for Questions about the REOI

June 26, 2024 | Materials posted:

Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) is to identify market participants capable of meeting eligibility requirements who are interested in potential participation in the Fast Regulating Reserve (FRR) Pilot Project or FRR Service. Selected participants will have the opportunity to support the AESO in developing, implementing and testing technical parameters through additional engagement.

Overview

To strengthen grid reliability, the AESO is looking at options to mitigate excessive tolerance excursions in Area Control Error (ACE), typically due to weather-related supply losses or variability, by quickly restoring ACE to acceptable levels. One potential solution is Fast Regulating Reserve (FRR), a balancing management service that would replace lost supply in an expeditious manner to maintain ACE within acceptable limits. The impacts of these weather-related supply losses and variability are further exacerbated with renewable facilities concentrated in geographic locations. When there is a weather-related event, there is potential for simultaneous impacts to multiple facilities and exceedance of the Most Severe Single Contingency (MSSC) limit.

In the event of supply loss or variability, the AESO is required to balance the AIES by deploying the necessary reserves to restore ACE to zero. This balancing is currently managed through Operating Reserves. However, given the abrupt nature of weather-related supply losses and variability, the AESO believes a more rapid energy release than what is currently prescribed under regulating and contingency reserve rules is required to restore ACE. As such, the AESO will be piloting FRR as a solution to balance this type of supply loss and variability.

Key Dates & Materials

July 19, 2024 | Deadline for EOIs to be submitted

July 15, 2024 | Deadline for Questions about the REOI

June 26, 2024 | Materials posted:

Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) is to identify market participants capable of meeting eligibility requirements who are interested in potential participation in the Fast Regulating Reserve (FRR) Pilot Project or FRR Service. Selected participants will have the opportunity to support the AESO in developing, implementing and testing technical parameters through additional engagement.

Overview

To strengthen grid reliability, the AESO is looking at options to mitigate excessive tolerance excursions in Area Control Error (ACE), typically due to weather-related supply losses or variability, by quickly restoring ACE to acceptable levels. One potential solution is Fast Regulating Reserve (FRR), a balancing management service that would replace lost supply in an expeditious manner to maintain ACE within acceptable limits. The impacts of these weather-related supply losses and variability are further exacerbated with renewable facilities concentrated in geographic locations. When there is a weather-related event, there is potential for simultaneous impacts to multiple facilities and exceedance of the Most Severe Single Contingency (MSSC) limit.

In the event of supply loss or variability, the AESO is required to balance the AIES by deploying the necessary reserves to restore ACE to zero. This balancing is currently managed through Operating Reserves. However, given the abrupt nature of weather-related supply losses and variability, the AESO believes a more rapid energy release than what is currently prescribed under regulating and contingency reserve rules is required to restore ACE. As such, the AESO will be piloting FRR as a solution to balance this type of supply loss and variability.

  • Requests for Expression of Interest | June 26 - July 19, 2024

    CLOSED: Expressions of Interest stage closed.

    Purpose

    The information and feedback generated by this REOI will assist in identifying potential parties for further engagement. If you are interested in participating in this Pilot and are capable of meeting the eligibility requirements, please download and review the REOI, follow the EOI Form Instructions and submit a completed EOI Form to FRRServices@aeso.ca by July 19, 2024, at 04:00 p.m. MDT.

    Interested stakeholders with a project currently in development that could potentially meet the FRR Eligibility Requirements by March 1, 2025 are also encouraged to submit a completed EOI Form. EOI forms may be used by the AESO to identify stakeholders for future market sounding.

    Stakeholder Questions

    Should you have any questions regarding this initiative, please direct them to FRRServices@aeso.ca by July 15, 2024.

    Materials

    The REOI and EOI Form Instructions can be found under AESO Materials.

Page last updated: 29 Jul 2024, 10:03 AM