(Reuters) – A rule barring wind and photo voltaic power producers from taking part in electrical energy markets that present important assist for the electrical energy grid for a lot of the Midwest is outdated and based mostly on ” stale” info, the photo voltaic business instructed the Federal Vitality Regulatory Fee (FERC).
The Photo voltaic Vitality Industries Affiliation (SEIA) on Tuesday filed a grievance with FERC in opposition to the Midcontinent Unbiased System Operator (MISO), arguing that the grid operator discriminates in opposition to renewable power sources by stopping them from -participate in markets that assist preserve grid reliability and transport techniques. again from an influence outage. By holding renewables out of the markets, the business says the grid operator supplies a aggressive benefit over conventional power sources similar to fossil fuels.
“For the previous decade, MISO has discriminated in opposition to renewable mills, and it is time for FERC to set the report straight and provides renewables a good shot,” mentioned Melissa Alfano, SEIA’s director of power markets and counsel. .
MISO’s ancillary markets have been working since 2009. The grid operator has submitted a plan to FERC, which regulates the nation’s transmission and wholesale electrical energy markets, on the way it will function these markets subsequent yr. That plan doesn’t embrace the usage of intermittent sources similar to wind and photo voltaic, in response to SEIA’s grievance.
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However MISO “by no means meant the ban to be everlasting,” SEIA mentioned, noting that the operator cited its personal lack of expertise with rising sources similar to wind and photo voltaic as a purpose for restrictions. The grievance says MISO later expanded the ban based mostly solely on an financial evaluation of simply six months’ price of information, which SEIA says is “now outdated.”
Greater than 10 years in the past, the photo voltaic power business says it has confirmed itself and famous that the reliability of renewables is strengthened by battery storage that retains the availability accessible even when the solar isn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow for some time. It’s time for the operator to simply accept renewables in ancillary markets which are working to fill surprising gaps in electrical energy provide, says SEIA.
FERC declined to remark. MISO didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
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