Overview
This report assesses inverter-based resource risks in the Western Interconnection and provides recommendations for regulatory bodies to support risk mitigation during the energy transition. It focuses on the rapid growth of renewable and inverter-based technologies, including wind, solar photovoltaic, battery energy storage and hybrid plants.
Prepared for the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body, the assessment considers how increasing levels of inverter-based resources may affect bulk power system reliability, and where regulatory, policy and industry action may be needed.
Why it matters
The Western Interconnection is moving quickly toward higher levels of inverter-based resources. The report notes that more than 97% of the generator interconnection queues in the Western Interconnection are currently made up of inverter-based resources, and WECC expects significant additions of solar, storage and wind over the next decade.
As these resources become a larger part of the grid, they introduce new reliability challenges around modeling, studies, ride-through performance, commissioning, protection, system strength, grid-forming controls, power quality and essential reliability services. The report highlights that swift and proactive action is needed to manage these risks effectively.
Key challenges explored
The report examines several inverter-based resource integration risks, including:
Abnormal inverter performance during grid disturbances
Inaccurate IBR modeling and study assumptions
Gaps in interconnection requirements
IBR commissioning practices
Ride-through performance
Dynamic essential reliability services
Protection and short-circuit considerations
Power quality
System restoration and blackstart considerations
Remedial action scheme interactions
Resource planning and energy assurance
The need for harmonised IBR requirements across the Western Interconnection
Questions this resource helps answer
This resource helps stakeholders consider questions such as:
What risks can inverter-based resources pose to bulk power system reliability?
Why are IBR risks particularly important in the Western Interconnection?
What lessons have been learned from past IBR-related grid disturbances?
Are current industry and regulatory risk mitigation efforts sufficient?
How can interconnection requirements be improved or harmonised?
What role can IEEE 2800-2022 play in supporting reliable IBR integration?
How can state utility commissions support proactive risk mitigation?
What the report covers
The report provides a structured assessment of IBR risks, current mitigation activities, gaps and recommendations.
Key sections include:
Background and scope
Growth of IBRs across the West
IBR risk assessment process
Prioritised list of IBR risks in the West
Observations from past IBR performance events
Systems integration challenges with growing IBRs
Current industry risk mitigation activities
FERC orders and directives
NERC IBR registration and standards development
WECC studies of IBR risks
IEEE 2800-2022 and interconnection requirements
Gap analysis of risks and mitigations
Key findings and recommendations
Key recommendations
The report includes near-term, medium-term and long-term recommendations.
Near-term recommendations include:
Template facility interconnection requirements
Targeted stakeholder engagement on emerging IBR topics
Harmonised adoption of IBR requirements
State regulatory emphasis on enhanced IBR requirements
Medium-term recommendations include:
Proactive stakeholder-engaged risk mitigation
Pilot projects for emerging IBR risk mitigations
A regional reliability standard for unified IBR requirements
Long-term recommendations include:
Transitioning toward a grid code approach in the West
Who this resource is for
This report may be useful for:
Regulatory bodies
State utility commissions
Transmission providers
Transmission owners and operators
Generator owners and operators
Renewable energy developers
Battery storage developers
Grid planners
Reliability organisations
Policymakers
OEMs and service providers
Industry stakeholders involved in IBR integration