Industry News

Information regarding an upcoming NERC Alert Level 3

Welcome Casey James: Our New Senior Meter Engineer at GridSME We are thrilled to announce that Casey James has joined the GridSME team as our Senior Meter Engineer! With over seven years of experience in metering engineering and management, Casey brings a wealth of expertise to our clients, supporting their needs in large-scale energy projects, regulatory compliance, and advanced metering solutions. Casey holds a B.S. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, specializing in Power from California State University, Sacramento, and has built a reputation as an expert in controls and metering integration, battery energy storage systems, and both retail and wholesale metering. His skills also extend to consulting on metering regulations on a national level, where he has guided critical stakeholders and driven innovation in metering standards for the evolving power sector. In previous roles, Casey has led teams of engineers and technicians across California, establishing best practices, training programs, and compliance workflows for efficient, accurate project delivery. He has been instrumental in developing metering methodologies for some of the largest solar and battery energy projects in the country and has substantial experience with CAISO-compliant inspections, SCADA implementations, and programming complex metering algorithms. At GridSME, Casey’s technical acumen and leadership will be invaluable as he works to deliver precise, reliable, and compliant metering solutions for our clients. We are excited to have him on board to help advance our mission and further support our clients in the energy industry.  Please join us in welcoming Casey to the GridSME family!

Upcoming New Standard: PRC-030-1 Unexpected Inverter-Based Resource Event Mitigation

Understanding the NERC Standards Development for Category 2 Inverter-Based Resources (IBR)

GridU Live this October!

NERC Alert: Inverter-Based Resource Model Quality Deficiencies NERC has released a crucial alert addressing significant deficiencies in the modeling and study practices of inverter-based resources (IBR). This comes after analyzing 10 large-scale disturbances since 2016, resulting in nearly 15,000 MW of unexpected IBR output reduction, predominantly occurring between 2020 and 2024. Reporting of these efforts is required by September 2, 2024. Scroll to read the full NERC Alert Article. Key Points: 1) Modeling Deficiencies: Poor modeling practices have been identified as a major contributing factor to these disturbances. Accurate and detailed dynamic models are essential for reliable bulk power system (BPS) operation. 2) Recommendations for Improvement: Model Validation: Models should be validated at both the inverter and plant levels, ensuring they accurately reflect in-service performance. Lifecycle Updates: Continuous updates and validations of models throughout the lifecycle of IBR plants are necessary. Standard and Equipment-Specific Models: Both standard library and equipment-specific models should be used, with rigorous testing and documentation to ensure accuracy. 3) Coordination and Reporting: Generator Owners (GOs), Transmission Planners (TPs), and Planning Coordinators (PCs) must collaborate with manufacturers and third-party consultants to address modeling deficiencies. Reporting of these efforts is required by September 2, 2024.

A Quick Refresher: NERC’s Work Plan and Initiative to Enhance Grid Reliability

Insights from GridSME: California's Renewable Energy Roadmap GridSME's Subject Matter Experts, Gary Brown and Lowell Watros, contributed valuable insights to this article for Reuters. Their expertise helped provide information and analysis on California's latest grid plan, particularly concerning grid improvements, renewable energy projects, and an expected surge in solar and storage projects. With their input, the article offers a comprehensive understanding of the developments in California's energy landscape and the implications for the renewable energy sector. Below are some of the key insights and takeaways from the article.

🚨 NERC Alert: Assessing 6 GHz Communication Impact on Electric Industry NERC has issued a Level 2 Alert concerning 6 GHz Communication Penetration in the Electric Industry, targeting Distribution Providers (DP), Distribution Provider UFLS-Only (DP-UFLS), Generator Owners (GO), and Transmission Owners (TO). The alert aims to evaluate reliance on 6 GHz technology and potential interference severity. Respondents must address a series of questions by July 8, 2024, to assess the situation comprehensively. Although only registered entities can respond directly, the alert is publicly available. Action items include acknowledging the alert and completing the questionnaire. Recommendations include identifying critical circuits and conducting baseline performance tests. It's crucial to note that these recommendations are distinct from requirements, as clarified by NERC. This alert underscores the necessity of assessing 6 GHz communication's impact on industry reliability and security. Stakeholders should stay informed and promptly address the alert's requirements. For further details, visit NERC's website: Link . See our LinkedIn post about the NERC Alert: here .