1. Interconnecting Wind & Solar Energy in Texas
Wind and Solar Expo
San Angelo, Texas
August 30, 2016
Hala Ballouz,
B.Sc., M.Sc. TAMU , P.E.
President , Electric Power Engineers, Inc.
Board member TREIA
Board Member AWE
Boar Member Wind Coalition

2. Offer consulting services to
In business since 1968
Offer consulting services to
Electric Cooperatives, Municipalities & Utilities
Private Generators, in particular renewable energy generators
Specialized in:
Distribution & Transmission planning & design
Energy Market Analysis
Work Plans, Long Range Plans, Sectionalizing
System Operation and Management
Generation Grid Integration Studies 2

3. Overview Galileo Wind & Solar Grid Interconnection Basics
ERCOT Generation Interconnection Queue
Wind/Solar Transmission Expansion in ERCOT
NEXT -- Distributed Resources
Future Strategy 3 3

4. Galileo

5. Galileo –The Earth or the Sun?

6. Vision

7. Vision

8. 2016 Vision  Recommendations Action
Incorporate Solar and Energy Storage in City and Electric Cooperatives Planning Standards
Build Substations with land provisions and connections for 3-5 MW Solar / Energy Storage
Sub
Action-> Engineering Services

9. 2016 Vision Planning Together Resource & Transmission Mapping
Collaboration
In Resource Development
Map the Resources
Open Competition in Transmission
Provide Ancillary Services
OPTIMIZE

10. Wind & Solar

11. RESOURCE - Intensity
Solar
Wind
Source: NREL

12. Solar Compliments Wind Production Profile
RESOURCE - profile
Load
Solar Thermal
Solar Compliments Wind Production Profile
Solar PV
Wind
Source: NREL

13. ERCOT Interconnection Queue

14. Table of Current Wind and Solar Interconnection Queue in ERCOT
Status
Wind
Solar
Totals
No. of MW
Projects
Capacity
With Signed IA & Financial Security* 34
6,455 17
1,757 51
8,212
With Signed IA & without Financial Security* 14
3,952 5
532 19
4,484
Under Study 76
16,736 33
4,549
109
21,285
Total
124
27,143 55
6,838
179
33,981
Conventional
Status
Coal
Gas
Totals
No. of MW
Projects
Capacity
With Signed IA & Financial Security* -- 10
3,871
With Signed IA & without Financial Security* 1
240 14
10,276 15
10,516
Under Study 28
10,165
Total 52
24,312 53
24,552
Storage
No. of MW
Projects
Capacity -- 1
324 3
320 4
644

15. ERCOT Queue – By Fuel Type

16. ERCOT Queue

17. ERCOT Queue

18. ERCOT Queue Legends Planned Wind, With Signed IA & SFS received by TSP
Planned Wind, With Signed IA & No SFS received by TSP
Planned Wind, Under Study
Planned Solar, With Signed IA & SFS received by TSP
Planned Coal, With Signed IA
& No SFS received by TSP
Planned Solar, With Signed IA & No SFS received by TSP
Planned Storage, With Signed IA
& No SFS received by TSP
Planned Solar, Under Study
Planned Storage, Under Study
Planned Gas, With Signed IA & SFS received by TSP
Planned Gas, With Signed IA & No SFS received by TSP
Planned Gas, Under Study

19. Grid Interconnection Basics

20. Grid Basics
Interconnection to the Transmission/ Distribution Grid is the first step in the process necessary for an electricity generator to deliver/sell energy to load.

21. Resource Location vs. Process for Interconnection
The application process, information submittals, and timelines vary amongst the different ISOs and with the individual Utilities.
Large generator interconnection process governed by RTOs/ISOs

22. ERCOT Process
Linear Queue Process
& Modest Study Fees

23. SPP Process Large deposits on initial application and studies .
PPA / turbine supply requirements .
Long duration Aggregate studies .

24. Interconnection Process Constraints
Large Queue
Transmission Congestion

25. Renewable Penetration
ERCOT

26. ERCOT Wind / Solar Transmission Projects in ERCOT

27. Far West Texas Load Growth
ERCOT Planning July 2015

28. Far West Texas 345 kV Grid Load+ Solar Expansion
AEP/ONCOR Proposal April 2016

29. Panhandle Wind – Lubbock Load Integration

30. Panhandle – Lubbock Load Integration
Second Circuit to be built
-PUCT recommended moving forward with the second 345 kV circuit on the Alibates – AJ Swope – Windmill – Ogallala – Tule Canyon (AAWOT) line under the CREZ Order (PURA §39.904(g))at the September 24, 2015 Open Meeting.
-Additional SVCs approved and on the way

31. ERCOT Long Term Studies
2031 Generation Additions and Retirements-- Current Trends
(Presented at RPG , August, 16, 2016)
Solar Additions: 20 GW by 2031
Unit Retirements: 13.5 GW by 2031

32. NEXT – Distributed Resources

33. Wind and Solar falling at and below $30/MWh
Cost of Renewables
Wind and Solar falling at and below $30/MWh

34. Interconnection and Project Size
Distribution Interconnection < 1 MW: Small commercial or residential systems behind the meter applications to offset load. Typically no studies are required for projects less than 20 kW.
Distribution Interconnection > 1 MW: Greater than 1 MW, less than 10 MW, and connected to a voltage less than 60 kV. Interconnection Study should be completed by Distribution Provider.
Transmission Interconnection : Projects greater than 10 MW and connected to 60 kV or greater. Two study stages, the ERCOT Screening Study and the Transmission Provider Full Interconnection Study.

35. Innovation on Distribution
Anticipate and Prepare for Distributed Generation (DG) Growth
Integrate DG in the Wholesale Market
Smarter Grid
Cross barriers to allow integration and information interchange between our distribution network and transmission network

36. Faster Deployment of Smaller Projects
TIMELINE ERCOT Interconnection Process Large Generation vs. Small Generator
Large Generator : 10 MW or larger
Goes through ERCOT Large Generator Interconnection Process
Typical processing time ~ 1028 days
Small Generator : less than 10 MW
Bypasses ERCOT Large Generator Interconnection Process
Process dictated by and completed directly with the Transmission Provider
Average processing time ~ 90 days
Faster Deployment of Smaller Projects

37. Specific DG-Related Statutes*
Develops provisions for:
Owners/operators to sell electric power
Use of T&D Facilities to transport electric power
Utilities to recover costs of facilities for used for interconnection
PURA – Distributed Natural Gas Generation Facilities
Interconnection of DRG
PUCT creation of rules and requirements for DRG
Requirement for TDU to measure out-flow
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits
Selling surplus electricity to REP
PURA – Interconnection of Distributed Renewable Generation
Customers entitled to have access to on-site distributed generation
PURA – Customer Safeguards
Allowing Independent School Districts to sell surplus energy form solar generation
Requiring utilities to provide metering to allow sell of energy
PURA – Credit for Surplus Solar Generation by Public Schools
*other statutes may be applicable to DG based on operation in the ERCOT wholesale market
Source: ERCOT

38. DG
DG interconnection application requirements vary by DSP for DG projects.
A universal interconnection agreement is already available from PUC Texas and it is being used by DSPs.
DG projects greater than 1 MW must register with ERCOT to be able to participate in the Wholesale Market.
DG settlement will be paid at the appropriate Load Zone Price.
No telemetry requirement for DG projects.

39. ERCOT Helpful Links
More information on ERCOT process for generation interconnection:
More information on Distributed Generation Resource Can be found under following link:
Texas PUC – Electric Substantive Rules – Chapter 25 – Technical Requirements for Interconnection and Parallel Operation of On-Site Distributed Generation can be found under following link:
Texas PUC – Electric Substantive Rules – Chapter 25 – Interconnection of On-Site Distributed Generation (DG) can be found following link:

40. 2016 Vision Planning Together Resource & Transmission Mapping
Collaboration
In Resource Development
Map the Resources
Open Competition in Transmission
Provide Ancillary Services
OPTIMIZE

41. Recommend pro-active solutions to West Coal Retirement and Solar West Expansion
2031 Generation Additions and Retirements-- Current Trends
(Presented at RPG , August, 16, 2016)
Solar Additions: 20 GW by 2031
Unit Retirements: 13.5 GW by 2031

42. 2016 Vision  Recommendations Action
Incorporate Solar and Energy Storage in City and Electric Cooperatives Planning Standards
Build Substations with land provisions and connections for 3-5 MW Solar / Energy Storage
Sub
Action-> Engineering Services

43. 4343
Q&As
Please contact Hala Ballouz, P.E. with any questions you may have. 43