On April 7, ILSR submitted comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to recommend they accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, recognizing a few caveats: Read ILSRs comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in full below. <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 765 990] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> www.tdworld.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Xcel should be encouraged to update the hosting analyses monthly, or simply more regularly, he said. Seven states now require utilities to produce solar hosting capacity maps: California, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to Yochi Zakai, an attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, who wrote the IREC paper and represents IREC in state proceedings. With significant anticipated growth in distributed solar across all states, electric grid managers need every tool possible to smooth its incorporation into the grid. The watchword is actionable. If the maps arent actionable (b/c theyre not accurate) they re actually worse than useless. For example, a recent 200 kWac project in Rhode Island learned when the interconnection application was submitted that no additional solar power was on either the local circuit or at the substation. GwfaaLLI'U:gp*= G}.a[8. Our service area includes all of New York City, and Westchester County, located directly north of New York City. hosting capacity map can help you identify potential sites for the interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to ComEd's distribution circuits. Developers can look at the map and predict where they might install a solar garden. In the Commissions July 2020 order, the Commission adopted a long-term goal to use the hosting capacity analysis in the interconnection processs fast track screens. The Commissions July 2020 Order also required the Company to study three additional objectives for hosting capacity analysis: These objectives set the Commissions intentions for hosting capacity analysis to, at the least, augment initial review screens and, at the most, totally automate interconnection studies. The Commission should accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, but we submit the following concerns about the Report and suggest additional development to advance the common goals of customers and the Commission. 4 0 obj These forecasts have uncertainties, such as weather and hourly load curves, as well as the typical inherent forecasting error, including, but not limited to economic drivers, customer decisions and/or behavior, and forecasted DERs. Link leads to external site, Share to LinkedIn. Utility National Grid operates in Rhode Island and illustrates local line capacities with its HCA map. Once the map is displayed, use the address search tool bar in the top left corner to zoom into a specific address. Also, the map is taken from data as of a point in time and updated as of the date indicated in the pop-up display on the map, and therefore may not reflect current conditions in a given area. Supporters agreed that the Companys participation in greater inter-developer transparency could facilitate cost-sharing in line upgrades and would be an improvement from the current cost-causer pays model. In summary, there are 5 things we ask of the Commission: Thank you for the opportunity to comment and for taking up this important conversation; we appreciate that there has not been any legislative preemption of this regulatory process. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Xcel slows the adoption of cost-effective distributed generation. Whether youre a customer, contractor, or developer, our interactive maps can help you identify potential sites for private generation. The LSRV is an added credit for DER installations in eligible areas where the utility grid would benefit from additional generation capacity. ComEd service territory covers over 11,000 square miles in northern Illinois including the . The highest capacity locations are seen in dark blue. The hosting capacity map is offered free of charge and correspondingly is not as accurate as the next steps for obtaining more specific information. Join our newsletter. ILSR asks that the Commission provide the Company more direction, in the form of deadlines to use HCA in initial or supplemental interconnection review (in the next 18-24 months) and automating at least a portion of interconnection proceedings (by 2025) as well as staff-facilitated working groups to guide implementation. Tips & Tools for Lowering Your Energy Bill, Savings for Multifamily Building Managers, Savings for Small-Medium Business Customers. This is necessary, because developer complaints have continued to the present. With the evolution of these HCA maps, developers now have access to something that previously was elusive: useful data. Grid security is a vital issue, but we fear it may serve as an excuse to further delay the interconnection of distributed generation. Required fields are marked *. The Interconnection Queue Report provides the following minimum information for all Distributed Generation (Excluding Level 1 Applications) or Distributed Storage Resource Projects for which a queue position has been assigned: Each substation and feeder where an interconnection will be made is identified in the reported data by a unique index number assigned for the purpose of reporting interconnection queue information and not by any geographic or operational designation or description. Voices of 100%: Youth Propel a Climate Action Plan, Community Solar Collective Gives Member-Owners Pow, 475 megawatts of residential solar by 2034, as a tool for economic stimulus and increased energy justice, comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Why Utilities in Minnesota and Other States Need to Plan for More Competition, committed to make the interconnection process work better, approving the November 2, 2020 Petition To Publish Certain Information about Applications in the Interconnection Queue, map that includes criteria violation values, Mainstreaming Electric Homes Episode 178 of Local Energy Rules. 6hA* Additionally, we have provided the peak substation load for the previous year. Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy pv magazine 2023, Welcome to pv magazine USA. Xcel Energy celebrates its reputation as a national leader in renewable energy with the nations largest community solar program, which gives customers cleaner energy options and more control over their energy use. This pride in marketing often doesnt align with the utilitys actions. Zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) icons are available to the left of the search tool bar. Only 3 URL's can be saved at a time. Your email address will not be published. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. An expedited review of the interconnection request under Levels 1 - 3 is available provided the proposed DG facility passes the screens outlined in Part 466 and does not require construction of facilities by ComEd to protect reliability and accommodate the interconnection of the DG facility. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, ILSR feels there are three issues worth addressing in this docket: 1) Xcel slows the adoption of cost-effective distributed generation, 2) Xcel has not fulfilled the requirements outlined in the Public Utility Commissions July 2020 Order, and 3) Xcel could do more to advance toward the ultimate goal: delivering its customers more cost-effective clean energy by integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. WASHINGTON - As the Illinois solar market grows from the Future Energy Jobs Act, the largest utility in the state has posted a planning tool to identify potential PV capacity in their service territory. Southern California Edison's hosting maps contain a built-in function enabling users . As of today, that big solar power plant is still pending, but the small one is complete. Multiple states require electric utilities to share their power grid data with solar developers. Control systems Monitor your operations and set temperature points and fan speeds to optimize savings. Xcel slows the adoption of cost-effective distributed generation. However, the map is only updated on an annual basis (number 3), making it considerably less useful for those who need an accurate depiction of grid capacity. Solar tower of power shows benefits of vertical installations, Court rules that inverter sizing guides grid connection, California pulls the plug on rooftop solar, Retaining value for solar customers under California NEM 3.0 rule change, U.S. As a result, the smaller 200 kWac project was told that the substation was full, and that it would have to share a roughly $650,000 upgrade cost, potentially delaying the project until the upgrades were complete. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. More articles from John Fitzgerald Weaver. 2. Please see Part 466 for specific qualification requirements (screens) for each interconnection level. The resulting tools are like treasure maps for solar developers. National Grid - New York System Data Portal - ArcGIS The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has required that Xcel Energy, the largest electricity provider in Minnesota, conduct annual hosting capacity analysis reports since 2016.These reports identify where the grid can accommodate additional distributed generation capacity (including rooftop and community solar) and the results are displayed on the company's Hosting Capacity Map. For example, Minnesotas community solar program is on track to reach one gigawatt of generation capacity as early as 2022 and ILSR predicts the development of an additional 475 megawatts of residential solar by 2034. It does not appear on display pages. However, if the Commission does not apply greater pressure for action, hosting capacity may continue to be a largely performative exercise without providing tangible benefits to Minnesota stakeholders and electric customers. RE: Docket E002/M-20-812 In the Matter of Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Report. The Electricity Forum (In Canada) While hosting capacity analysis can be valuable as a data point, it could be an even better tool for distributed solar adoption. A potential applicant may submit a formal written request form along with a non-refundable fee for a pre-application report on a proposed project at a specific site. www.tdworld.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The next step beyond ensuring accuracy and actionability is automating interconnection applications based on specific map grid circuits and line sections, with click and claim capabilities that link these maps with automated interconnection portals. As previously mentioned, existing DER is not considered in this stage of the hosting capacity analysis, and the data pop-ups are intended to provide additional context to the displays. To smooth the process of integrating DER, ComEd is developing and implementing technologies, like a hosting capacity map, so stakeholders can make informed decisions about where to install generation, like PV, as well as technologies to accelerate the interconnection process for smaller quantities of generation. But after the utility corrected its hosting capacity analysis, the map showed lots of green, the paper says, indicating lots of room for solarfor example for Monterey, California, shown at right, compared to lots of red in the initial version shown above. Southern California Edisons hosting maps contain a built-in function enabling users to filter sites based on available capacity above a certain threshold. The analyses presented in these displays provide the feeder level hosting capacity for the distribution circuits evaluated. It may also speed up the interconnection process; if developers can split an upgrade charge with other projects in the queue for that same feeder, they may be less likely to withdraw their application in the final stretch. A technical error has occurred. In at least five more states, regulators are considering requiring utilities to produce such maps, or to improve the maps they are already publishing, Zakai said: Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Improving Your IT Room | ComEd - An Exelon Company Xcel could do more to advance toward the ultimate goal: delivering its customers more cost-effective clean energy by integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. You can remove a saved URL to remember another. Transmission Interconnection | ComEd - An Exelon Company The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Apply Now. x\r8}wTw*YNdc!88RV'O]t )$DZIIOF ys=N~=hAs`9Dr3N%_+E6'0QMwx4SJ\ip_NOuzr-2j#b/)eJm ! Please contact our Customer Care Center if you have questions. Additional displays with tabulated data have been included in the form of data pop-up displays to indicate that the hosting capacity may be lower at any given location. Questions? Circuit configurations can change for various reasons. The Hosting Capacity map gives an indication of how much generation (expressed in kW) can be added to a feeder before the feeder reaches capacity or other limitations that reduce the reliability of service to electric customers on the feeder. endobj If you have more to contribute, please comment with a link. PG&Es initial solar hosting capacity map showed lots of red for Monterey, California, and was later corrected to show lots of green, says IREC. Hosting Capacity Analysis Could Simplify Grid Interconnection for endobj In Georgia, solar groups last year called for state regulators to require Georgia Power to produce such maps. Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. Hosting Capacity Map | Delmarva Power - An Exelon Company PG&E, after conducting validation work, conceded that the solar results were erroneous, says the IREC paper. Read the report, and find all of our resources and reporting on chain dollar stores here. The procedures for interconnection are divided into four levels as follows: Generally speaking, DG facilities that are certified by nationally recognized testing laboratories and meet certain standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Underwriters' Laboratory, and the National Electrical Code, may qualify for interconnection under an expedited review process provided for in Levels 1 - 3. Southern California Edison provides one such example of a more thorough hosting capacity map that includes criteria violation values. Surplus availability for solar capacity always listed in AC/inverter sizing terms is determined by the utility and based on the minutia inherent to each circuit. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Con Edison uses the most recent actual hourly loads to capture the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) impacts embedded in the service area to develop the load shapes for the individual networks. Solar developers take on module manufacturing risk. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. This map is one tool that customers and developers can use to help assess the available hosting capacity in a given general location. No matter the size of your IT room, the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program has incentives to keep your critical IT infrastructure running efficiently. In general, this section applies to smaller generators (e.g., Residential Power Projects). Error: Please call us at 1-800-752-6633 to complete this request. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Be aware of your private generation configuration options and system limitations. View the Interconnection Queue. The Company continues to question the Commissions intentions and displays a general lack of urgency in this matter. More recently, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the Clean Coalition of California have made large contributions to the maps. Really hope utilities and leaders are thoughtful about more consistent updates to these portals (live data, in an ideal world) to improve results across the board. By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Applications received by ComEd without payment of the application fee will not be entered into the interconnection process for review by ComEd. Con Edison Hosting Capacity Maps | Con Edison However, the developers obligation to take on power grid risk slowed efficient markets from forming. What this does indicate is that a densely populated community like Oak Park would most likely have to get the majority of its solar and renewable electricity from outside its boundaries to reach the statewide RPS goal of 25%. Every interconnection location must be specifically assessed through the formal interconnection process. L1W3V4 Hosting Capacity is the amount of distributed energy that can be placed without requiring system upgrades or effecting power quality. The Illinois Commerce Commission established Title 83 Illinois Administrative Code Part 466 (Electric Interconnection of Distributed Generation Facilities) to establish standardized applications and review procedures and agreements for customers wanting to connect generators of equal to or Less than 10 MVA in parallel to a utility's electric distribution system. ComEd has created a hosting capacity map that developers can utilize that will help them locate areas in our service territory where the existing electrical infrastructure may be more cost. And the newest version of their Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA 20) maps went online as of December 28. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide.