Frequency Response Initiative

Robert W. CummingsDirector of System Analysis and Reliability InitiativesNERC Standing CommitteesSeptember 14-15, 2010

2FRI Objectives Coordinate all NERC standards development and

performance analysis activities related to frequency response and control

Identify specific frequency-related reliability factors Identify root causes of changes in frequency

response Identify practices and methods to address root

causes Consider impacts of integration of new generation

technologies (such as wind, solar, and significant nuclear expansion)

3FRI Objectives Develop metrics and benchmarks to improve

frequency response performance tracking Share lessons learned with the industry via

outreach, alerts, and webinars Determine if performance-based frequency

response standards are warranted

4Near-Term Tasks Develop a clear set of terminology for use by

NERC and the industry• RS, FRWG, Freq. SDTs, SARI staff• Start Date: April 26, 2010• Out for comment from PC & OC• Target End Date: September 30, 2010

Issue an Recommendation (ROP § 810) and survey to collect data and information for analysis• Survey drafting team, SARI staff• Start Date: May 2010

Issue: Sept. 9-15, 2010• GOs/GOPs – 3-month response required• BAs – 45 day response required• Target End Date: Dec. 31, 2010

5Near-Term Tasks Analyze current and historical Primary and

Secondary Control Response performance – what factors influence that performance (original tasks 3&4)• Control Factor Task Team

RS, FRWG, Freq. SDTs, SARI staff

• Start Date: Aug. 2, 2010• Analyze

Existing primary control parameters – governor behavior ACE equation influences – Appropriate Frequency Bias levels (mid-term

task) Plant-level controls influence More?

• Target End Date: Jan. 31, 2011

6Near-Term Tasks Develop automated method for determining

frequency deviation events to be used for BAs to measure Primary Control Response• RS, FRWG, & SARI staff• Start Date: Aug. 1, 2010• Parameters for events being evaluated by RS & FRWG• Evaluating CERTS FMA Tool• Incorporate FNet-like detection & triangulation algorithm

Potential modifications – DOE funding Scope changes by Oct. 31, 2010

• Quarterly review of event list and selection by RS or FRWG

• Target End Date: April 29, 2011

7Near-Term Tasks Develop appropriate metrics for tracking

frequency performance on each interconnection to monitor trends and performance• RS, FRWG, Freq. SDTs, & SARI staff• Start: October 1, 2010• Target End Date: December 31, 2010

8Near-Term Tasks Develop sustainable methods for auto-

matically collecting, trending, and analyzing various elements of frequency response and control for frequency deviation events• RS, FRWG, Freq. SDTs, & SARI staff• Start Date: Aug. 1, 2010• Data collection being evaluated by RS & FRWG• Evaluating CERTS FMA Tool• Incorporate PMU-based determination of Points A, B & C

Potential modifications – DOE funding Scope changes by Oct. 31, 2010

• Target End Date: April 29, 2011

9Mid-Term Tasks Determine appropriate minimum Bias

settings for use in AGC systems as part of an overall Frequency Response and Control strategy• RS, FRWG, Freq. SDTs, & SARI staff• Analyze variability of frequency response to

determine range of frequency response that must be protected

• Analyze sensitivity to performance for various Frequency Bias settings in ACE equations

• Start: November 1, 2010• Target End Date: April 29, 2011

10Mid-Term Tasks Improve transient dynamic models of Primary

Control Response for generators and other devices• Governor Review Team – DOE funding

John Undrill/Eric Allen Student assistance Regional modeling groups

• Compare GO/GOP Survey information against dynamic models

Critical evaluation Analysis of control parameters in models Recommendations for improvements & Feedback to regions and

GOs• Start: November 1, 2010• Target End Date: September 30, 2011

Some Frequency Control Initial Findings

No system wide tuning strategy being employed Prior to interconnections of systems, it was

necessary to tune each governor to regulate system frequency in isolation

The necessity of stable isolated governing has given way in many cases to faster load ramping or AGC control

WECC Hydro

Retuned Hydro Governors

14Mid-Term Tasks Explore and analyze what are appropriate

frequency response and control performance requirements to maintain system reliability• RS, FRWG, Freq. SDTs, & SARI staff• In-depth analysis control performance requirements

for generators• Evaluate progress made in ERCOT

Lowered deadband to ±16.7 mHz No-step method of droop application

• Report to OC/PC• Possible recommendations for SARs• Start: November 1, 2010• Target End Date: April 29, 2011

15Longer-Term Tasks Develop and implement mid-term dynamic

models of Primary Control Response of generators and other devices• Potential participants – TIS, SPCS, MVTF,

turbine / generator and controls manufacturers• Research required – potential DOE funding• Tied to Modeling Improvements and System

Protection Initiatives• Projected Start: January 2011• Target End Date: December 2012

16Longer-Term Tasks Analyze current Inertial Response and

determine what factors influence performance• Potential participants – TIS, MVTF, regional

dynamics groups• Collect inertial response information from PMU

data for Eastern and Western Interconnections National labs collecting data from data concentrators

for frequency events determined by RS/FRWG• Data Collection Start: October 1, 2010• Target End Date: December 2012

17Longer-Term Tasks Examine Primary Control Frequency

Response characteristics of electronically-coupled resources and “smart grid” loads• Develop load and “generator” models (research

required) to properly analyze influence on system behavior in transient, post-transient, and mid-term stability Potential DOE funding Work underway – BPA initiative on load analysis

• Potential participants – TIS, MVTF, regional dynamics groups

• Start Date: August 1, 2010• Target End Date: December 2012

18Longer-Term Tasks Explore how displacement of inertial

generation with electronically-coupled resources might influence Inertial Response• Potential participants – TIS, MVTF, regional dynamics

groups• Analyze sensitivity of system dynamics to changes in

inertial response and synchronizing torque Attenuation of oscillatory impulses Dynamic cohesion

• Predecessor – determining characteristics of electronically-coupled resources and loads

• Start Date: June 2011• Target End Date: July 2012

19Reporting & Ongoing Activities

Ongoing Activities Communications / Educational Outreach

• Technical Reference Documents• Webinars / Workshops

Metrics & Calculations• Ongoing determination of frequency events for analysis• Quarterly determination of response performance

Reporting on FRI Progress Oct. 18, 2010 – Report to FERC Dec. 31, 2010 – Report to Board February 2011 – Report to Board and FERC 2011 & 2012 Quarterly Reports to Board

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Question & Answer