N-2NSPI (NSEB) RIRs 1-20 - Redacted
18 passages
CI C0032664 – Energy Control Centre – Optimization Tools (NSEB M12591) NSPI Responses to NSEB Information Requests 1 Request IR-1: 2 3 (a) Please explain the detail functions of the three new interrelated software solutions in 4 plain lang...
AI summary NS Power is explaining the functions of three new software solutions for the Energy Control Centre, including the ECCPO tool, which is designed to optimize real-time economic dispatch and streamline processes in line with decarbonization targets.
1. Motivation In its 2018-2019 Fuel Adjustment Mechanism ("FAM") Audit Report ("Audit Report"),1 the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board's ("NSUARB", Board) auditor, Bates White, LLC ("Bates White" or the "Auditor"), noted certain finding...
AI summary The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board's auditor identified issues with Nova Scotia Power's dispatch process, including suboptimal dispatch and the need for better tracking tools. NS Power disagreed with some conclusions but agreed to improve automation and system modeling. A dispatch study was commissioned by Concentric Energy Advisors to address these concerns and align with industry standards.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 12 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY Concentric conducted several interviews and reviewed numerous documents, including documents that informed the 2018-201...
AI summary Concentric Energy Advisors evaluated NS Power's dispatch practices and found them aligned with industry best practices. The report recommends upgrading analytical tools and communication platforms to handle increased complexity from renewable integration. Current practices are deemed appropriate, though future investments may be necessary.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 13 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY or optimization tools are generating sub-optimal dispatch results. Based on Concentric's findings, these investments al...
AI summary The document discusses NS Power's dispatch study, emphasizing the need for a portfolio-based evaluation of dispatch performance and the potential benefits of automation in optimizing processes. It highlights the importance of considering both energy output and ancillary services in evaluating asset performance.
a. Observations - O1: The Marketing Desk optimizes the dispatch schedule to solve for the economics of the dispatch of the facilities for energy and ancillary services that yield the smallest cost possible. The Control Center reassesses an...
AI summary The text discusses the coordination between the Marketing Desk and Control Center in optimizing dispatch schedules and ancillary services. It highlights the use of PortOps® for modeling and optimizing energy markets, and the importance of real-time communication between departments for effective system management.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 16 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY Schedule expectations. Such an IT Platform should allow for full integration with existing databases. An example of suc...
AI summary The document outlines recommendations for improving the IT platform and dispatch processes at NS Power, including integration with existing databases, dynamic data updates, optimization of energy and ancillary services, and the use of specific tools like PCI's GenTrader® for real-time dispatch calculations.
3.3 Historical Operation and Performance Tufts Cove Units 1, 2, and 3 are older, larger, and relatively inefficient dual fueled steam units compared to Tufts Cove Units 4, 5, and 6 that are newer, smaller, more efficient natural gas-fired...
AI summary Tufts Cove Units 1 and 2 are older, less efficient dual-fueled steam units with lower availability and higher forced outage rates compared to newer, more efficient natural gas units at the same site.
Figure 3: Tufts Cove Unit Availability and DAFOR32 Availability Factor DAFOR 2018 2019 2020 2018 2019 2020 Unit 1 75% 83% 79% 25.2% 15.6% 9.7% Unit 2 49% 77% 74% 36.6% 24.9% 14.1% Unit 3 90% 88% 93% 4.1% 3.3% 3.1% Unit 4 92% 79% 92% 1.8% 4...
AI summary Figure 3 presents the availability factors and DAFOR for Tufts Cove units from 2018 to 2020. The units show varying availability, with some units performing better in certain years. Natural gas prices influence the operation of Tufts Cove units, with higher usage in summer when gas prices are lower compared to oil and coal.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 31 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - System Planning and Portfolio Optimization perform long-term forecasting using PLEXOS® based on long-term market expe...
AI summary The document outlines different forecasting approaches used by NS Power for long-term, Day Ahead, and Real Time dispatch planning. Each function uses different data sources and focuses, leading to varying results for the Tufts Cove facility. These variations are expected and not inherently problematic.
a. Observations - O1: The Marketing Desk optimizes the dispatch schedule to solve for the economics of the dispatch of the facilities for energy and ancillary services that yield the smallest cost possible. The Control Center reassesses an...
AI summary The document outlines observations regarding the optimization of dispatch schedules and ancillary services. It notes that the Marketing Desk and Control Center work together to minimize costs, and that PortOps® is being used appropriately for modeling Tufts Cove, though there are challenges in aligning gas procurement with electric dispatch planning.
b. Recommendations - R1: Investigate the creation of an IT Platform similar to other jurisdictions where the information about the system is shared live so the Marketing Group can update its Dispatch Schedule expectations. Such an IT Platf...
AI summary The recommendations focus on improving IT systems for energy management, suggesting the creation of an IT platform similar to PJM's Data Viewer and updating PortOps® with real-time data for better system integration and optimization as system complexity increases.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 44 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY forecast precipitation, forecast temperature, freezing and melting conditions and expectations, and other operational r...
AI summary The document discusses the operational challenges faced by Wreck Cove due to unpredictable weather patterns in Nova Scotia, which impact water levels and facility operations. It also outlines how GHG emission costs are integrated into the energy optimization process through a shadow price mechanism used in dispatch planning.
5.5. Heat Rates NS Power used to dispatch its fleet using an average heat rate to align with an era where the average heat rate was dominated by one larger coal unit, such that any more efficient heat rates included in the average did not...
AI summary NS Power previously used average heat rates for dispatch, but now uses incremental heat rates in optimization models like PortOps® and PLEXOS®. The change reflects the inclusion of more efficient units and renewable generation. Concentric supports continuing this approach, emphasizing the need to evaluate dispatch in the context of the entire portfolio and ancillary services.
a. Observations - O1: The Marketing Desk optimizes the dispatch schedule to solve for the economics of the dispatch of the facilities for energy and ancillary services that yield the smallest cost possible. The Control Center reassesses an...
AI summary The document outlines observations regarding the coordination between the Marketing Desk and the Control Center in optimizing dispatch schedules, addressing discrepancies in natural gas procurement timing, and the importance of fuel switching at Tufts Cove. It emphasizes the challenges in aligning dispatch schedules across different market timelines and the role of intermittent resources in affecting these differences.
a. Observations - O1: The Marketing Desk optimizes the dispatch schedule to solve for the economics of the dispatch of the facilities for energy and ancillary services that yield the smallest cost possible. The Control Center reassesses an...
AI summary The document outlines the optimization processes of the Marketing Desk and Control Center in managing energy and ancillary services. It highlights the differences in market dynamics between electricity and natural gas, the role of fuel switching at Tufts Cove, and the use of tools like PortOps® and PLEXOS® in economic dispatch and ancillary service modeling to minimize system costs.
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Peggy Green, Nova Scotia Power FROM: Ruben Moreno, Concentric Energy Advisors, Inc. ("Concentric") DATE: January 31, 2023 RE: QUANTIFICATION OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM INCREMENTAL INVESTMENTS IN AUTOMATIZATION AND OP...
AI summary This memorandum from Concentric Energy Advisors, Inc. to Peggy Green of Nova Scotia Power discusses the quantification of economic benefits from incremental investments in automation and optimization tools at the NSPSO level.
As the system increases in complexity and the effect of wind variability has a larger role in the portfolio, the economic benefit of the Automation and Optimization Tools will increase. Conversely, if NS Power does not implement these tool...
AI summary The document discusses the economic benefits of implementing automation and optimization tools in the face of increasing system complexity and wind variability. It highlights that failure to use these tools may lead to under-optimization and increased opportunity costs, though theoretical benefits are based on statistical expectations that may not always align with real-world outcomes.
NON-CONFIDENTIAL 2 (d) NS Power is currently the only user of the technology, as it is only applicable to internal 3 NS Power functions at this time. 1 Date Filed: February 6, 2026 NSPI (NSEB) IR-8 Page 2 of 2 CI C0032664 – Energy Control...
AI summary NS Power is the sole current user of a specific technology, which is only applicable to internal functions within the company at this time. The document pertains to an information request filed by NSPI with the NSEB regarding Energy Control Centre optimization tools.