N-2NSPI (NSEB) RIRs 1-20 - Redacted
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CI C0032664 – Energy Control Centre – Optimization Tools (NSEB M12591) NSPI Responses to NSEB Information Requests 1 with dispatchable quick-start generation, will be subject to a more complex set of 15 The Energy Control Centre Portfolio...
AI summary The document discusses the necessity of the Energy Control Centre Portfolio Optimization (ECCPO) platform to manage the increasing complexity of system dispatch due to the shift from dispatchable thermal units to variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. It also highlights the need for the System Dispatch Dashboard (SDD) to automate routine operations.
TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Tufts Cove Unit Overview 25 Figure 2: Ramp Rates of NS Power's Thermal Generating Units 26 Figure 3: Tufts Cove Unit Availability and DAFOR 27 Figure 4: Daily Modeling Timeline 33 Figure 5: Wreck Cove Operating P...
AI summary The document contains a table of figures and tables related to Nova Scotia Power's generating units, system demand, and dispatch optimization processes. It includes figures on system load, generation capacity, and historical data, as well as a table on net system peak demand and installed capacity by generation type.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 10 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - 3. The Role of the Control Center and the Market Participants. Consistent with North American Electric Reliability Co...
AI summary This section discusses the role of the Control Center and market participants in Nova Scotia's power dispatch, highlighting the asymmetry of information between the Marketing Desk and the Control Center, and the need for improved communication channels to support economic dispatch optimization, particularly with increasing renewable energy integration.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 11 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY bulk power system. In some systems (such as ISO-NE), it is the system operator's Control Center that co-optimizes the d...
AI summary This section discusses the optimization capabilities of Nova Scotia Power's Control Center and Marketing Desk, highlighting how the system operator leverages the Marketing Desk's analytical capabilities for optimized dispatch schedules, which are then manually adjusted by the Control Center to reflect real-time conditions. It also notes that increased decarbonization and intermittent energy resources may necessitate the Control Center to take on more optimization responsibilities.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 14 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - O5: Natural gas and fuels markets do not follow the same dynamics and schedule of electricity markets and, as a resul...
AI summary The dispatch study discusses the challenges of aligning natural gas procurement with electricity market schedules, highlights the role of fuel switching at Tufts Cove, and explains how Wreck Cove and Tufts Cove will function as swing units as renewable energy grows. It also notes the use of PortOps® and PLEXOS® for economic dispatch and long-term planning.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 15 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - O10: As the portfolio grows in complexity with the retirement of coal generation and the addition of significant volu...
AI summary The document outlines challenges and considerations in real-time dispatch optimization as the energy portfolio becomes more complex with the integration of renewable resources and the retirement of coal generation. It emphasizes the need for dynamic system updates, the role of the Control Center, and limitations of current optimization tools and communication processes.
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.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 17 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY results and the economic dispatch output. Future adjustments to this flexibility could be informed by historical perfor...
AI summary The document discusses the need for Nova Scotia Power to enhance its dispatch study by incorporating historical performance data and market trading variances. It emphasizes the role of the Control Center in real-time optimization and the need for improved IT platforms to ensure transparency. Additionally, it highlights the importance of accounting for operating reserves when calculating the contribution of intermittent resources.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 19 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY 1. Limited Interconnectivity. When compared to other neighboring electric systems such as those in the Northeastern par...
AI summary Nova Scotia's electricity system is characterized by limited interconnectivity compared to other systems in North America and is transitioning from a legacy thermal generation model to one incorporating more renewable and intermittent resources. NS Power operates as a vertically integrated utility, responsible for most of the province's generation, transmission, and distribution.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 20 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY large-scale coal-fired assets. It also implies that thermal resources with quick ramp-up capabilities that had traditio...
AI summary The document discusses the evolving role of thermal resources in supporting renewable energy integration and highlights differences in dispatch optimization between the Marketing Desk and the Control Center at NS Power. It notes that the Marketing Desk's data lags behind real-time data used by the Control Center, affecting the accuracy of economic dispatch within short timeframes.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 21 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY difference in the dispatch from Marketing Desk and the Control Center reflects the short-term dynamics of the system. I...
AI summary The document discusses NS Power's dispatch study, highlighting differences in dispatch information between the Marketing Desk and Control Center, the manual nature of communication between these entities, and the need for electronic communication platforms. It also outlines optimization elements in traditional electric systems and how NS Power currently manages energy and ancillary services dispatch.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 22 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY information from the Control Center. The Control Center adjusts the economic optimization as prepared by the Marketing...
AI summary The document discusses the dispatch process in Nova Scotia's electric system, highlighting the current roles of the Marketing Desk and Control Center in optimization. It emphasizes the need for improved real-time integration and analytical capabilities in the Control Center as the system transitions to more renewable energy sources.
3.1 Facility Overview The Tufts Cove generation plant is located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour and consists of six units, as summarized inFigure 1. Tufts Cove Units 1, 2, and 3 came on line between 1965 and 1976 and were heavy fu...
AI summary The Tufts Cove generation plant in Halifax Harbour has six units, with Units 1, 2, and 3 originally fueled by heavy fuel oil and later converted to dual fuel, while Units 4, 5, and 6 are natural-gas only. The plant is critical for maintaining reliability in the Halifax Metro Area during storms.
Figure 1: Tufts Cove Unit Overview28 Max Net Capacity In Service Year Fuel Type Unit 1 78 1965 Natural Gas Unit 2 93 1972 Oil/Natural Gas Unit 3 147 1976 Oil/Natural Gas Unit 4 49 2003 Natural Gas Unit 5 49 2005 Natural Gas Unit 6 46 2012...
AI summary Figure 1 provides an overview of the Tufts Cove Units, detailing their maximum net capacity, in-service years, and fuel types. Units 4, 5, and 6 operate as a combined-cycle plant, with Units 4 and 5 being simple-cycle peaking units and Unit 6 serving as the heat recovery steam generator. The Tufts Cove combined-cycle units are highlighted as the newest, most efficient, and fastest-ramping thermal facilities of NS Power, particularly in comparison to the Port Hawkesbury Biomass plant.
Figure 2: Ramp Rates of NS Power's Thermal Generating Units30 Thermal Plant Ramp Rate (MW/Minute) Tufts Cove 4 5.00 Tufts Cove 5 5.00 Tufts Cove 6 3.50 Trenton 6 2.00 Lingan 1 2.00 Lingan 2 2.00 Lingan 3 2.00 Lingan 4 2.00 Point Tupper 2.0...
AI summary Figure 2 presents the ramp rates of NS Power's thermal generating units, including Tufts Cove, Lingan, Trenton, and Point Aconi. The data shows varying ramp rates across different plants, with Tufts Cove 4 and 5 having the highest at 5.00 MW/minute. The section '3.2 Natural Gas Procurement' introduces a new topic related to the procurement of natural gas.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 30 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY
AI summary This document is a final attachment from a Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) proceeding, titled 'NS Power Dispatch Study,' and includes a redacted page from a larger document. It is part of a regulatory process involving energy dispatch and operations.
3.5.1 Historical Over the last decade, the use of Tufts Cove has changed with the evolution of NS Power's overall generation portfolio. As documented in NS Power's IRP the overall generation from the plant has declined over time; however,...
AI summary Over the last decade, Tufts Cove's role in NS Power's generation portfolio has evolved from a baseload facility to a flexible resource supporting renewable intermittency. Units 4, 5, and 6 are particularly important for their ramping capabilities and ancillary services during off-peak hours.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 32 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY of Tufts Cove incorporates three gas prices: (1) the baseload, contracted price of gas for which prices and volume limi...
AI summary The dispatch of Tufts Cove incorporates multiple gas price scenarios and considers real-time system conditions and reliability benefits. Over time, Tufts Cove is expected to be used more for grid stability than energy provision, as outlined in NS Power's IRP.
3.7 Timing of Natural Gas Purchases and Generation Dispatch There is a strong interaction between gas supply purchases and generation dispatch both in terms of price and timing and this interaction adds a level of uncertainty to the proces...
AI summary The document discusses the mismatch between the gas day (11:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Atlantic Time) and the electric day (midnight to midnight) used by NS Power and the ECC, creating uncertainty in gas purchases and generation dispatch. A 2015 FERC proposal to adjust the gas day to align with electric dispatch was rejected due to insufficient benefits relative to operational and cost implications.
3.8 Observations and Recommendations Based on our analysis, Concentric concludes that Tufts Cove is currently being modeled appropriately in PortOps® using gas pricing and gas purchase information that is as current as possible and that th...
AI summary Concentric concludes that Tufts Cove is modeled appropriately in PortOps® using current gas pricing and purchase information. The discrepancy between forecasted and actual dispatch is attributed to the flexibility of Tufts Cove Units 4, 5, and 6 and the increasing use of intermittent renewable generation, which affects their utilization in balancing output.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 36 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY As a result, Tufts Cove Units 4, 5, and 6 are often not ultimately dispatched based on the cost of their energy product...
AI summary The dispatch of Tufts Cove Units 4, 5, and 6 is influenced by wind conditions and system flexibility rather than purely cost-based decisions. These units are held back to maintain system security and are not always available due to gas price fluctuations. Their dispatch must be evaluated within the context of the broader portfolio, which includes intermittent wind assets and other generation sources.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 37 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY take advantge of this optimization is extensive and will continue to increase with the complexity of the system. Consis...
AI summary The document discusses the optimization of real-time electricity markets and the challenges of aligning natural gas procurement with electricity dispatch schedules. It emphasizes the importance of flexibility in gas procurement and the role of fuel switching at Tufts Cove. The integration of intermittent resources and the use of tools like PLEXOS® and PortOps® in economic dispatch and ancillary service modeling are highlighted.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 38 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY value of newly added ancillary services should be available via the terms of future contracts for renewable energy and...
AI summary The document outlines recommendations for improving the dispatch and optimization processes within the Nova Scotia Power system, including the separation of responsibilities between the Marketing Desk and the Control Center, enhancing analytical capabilities, and improving data communication and gas procurement flexibility.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 39 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY SECTION 4:
AI summary The document is a page from a final NS Power Dispatch Study, specifically Section 4, which appears to be part of a regulatory proceeding in Nova Scotia. The content is partially redacted, and the page includes a reference to a figure or image labeled 'page_52_Picture_4.jpeg'.
WRECK COVE The Bates White Audit recommended that NS Power should investigate options available in PortOps® to determine Day-Ahead and Real-Time schedules that consider economic optimization in the determination of target levels for Wreck...
AI summary The Bates White Audit suggests that NS Power should explore PortOps® to optimize Wreck Cove's scheduling, considering economic factors. Wreck Cove is currently dispatched based on physical limitations and hydrology, but its optimization potential is constrained. The report discusses modeling Wreck Cove within PortOps® to improve dispatch and address concerns raised by the auditor.
4.2 Wreck Cove Facility and its Operation The Wreck Cove Hydroelectric Generating Station ("Wreck Cove") is a 212 MW hydro generation facility located south of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in the Municipality of the County of Vi...
AI summary The Wreck Cove Hydroelectric Generating Station, a 212 MW facility located south of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, was commissioned in 1978 and underwent refurbishment in 2015-2016. It consists of two generating stations and is notable for its engineering and construction challenges, including the blasting of over 2.5 million cubic meters of rock. A second phase of its Life Extension and Modernization project was approved by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board in 2021.
4.3 Role of Wreck Cove in NS Power's Portfolio of Assets The Wreck Cove facility plays a vital role in NS Power's system optimization and represents approximately half of the installed MW capacity of Nova Scotia Power's 33-unit hydroelectr...
AI summary The Wreck Cove facility is a significant asset in NS Power's hydroelectric fleet, contributing about half of the installed MW capacity across 33 units and playing a key role in system optimization.
Figure 5: Wreck Cove Operating Parameters 54 Hydro Facility Capacity Energy Reserves Max capacity: 106 MW each unit Max per day: 2.5 GWh55 AGC = Yes Minimum stable level 45 MW each Min per day: not modeled Regulation: 20 MW (set by ramp ca...
AI summary Figure 5 outlines the operating parameters of the Wreck Cove hydro facility, highlighting its capacity, energy output, and flexibility. It is noted as NS Power's only AGC-capable hydro unit, with a fast ramp rate of 20 MW/minute, allowing it to become fully operational in about 10 minutes.
Similarly, the facility provides important regulation and operating reserves services. Currently, it is the only unit in the NS Power hydro fleet that is equipped with Automatic Generation Control ("AGC"). AGC is a capability that allows a...
AI summary The facility provides regulation and operating reserves services and is the only NS Power hydro unit equipped with Automatic Generation Control (AGC), which allows real-time power output adjustments. Wreck Cove's regulation capabilities are discussed, along with operational constraints and water storage conditions affecting daily maximum output.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 42 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY MW/minute, set by ramp capability. Wreck Cove is also the only Hydro Unit in NS Power's fleet that has black start56 ca...
AI summary The document discusses the NS Power Dispatch Study, highlighting the ramp capability and black start capabilities of the Wreck Cove Hydro Unit, which is the only Hydro Unit in NS Power's fleet with such capabilities and undergoes black start testing.
4.4 Historical Operation and Performance Wreck Cove is relied on for capacity, energy, and ancillary services products including regulation, operating reserves, and black start capability. The facility was originally designed for peak load...
AI summary Wreck Cove provides capacity, energy, and ancillary services, including regulation, operating reserves, and black start capability. It was designed for peak loading and generated approximately 350 GWh in 2019 and 250 GWh in 2020. Data sources include FAM Audits and Hydro Data from NS Power.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 43 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY Figure 7: Wreck Cove Generation (GWh) 2020-202159 Fall rainfall is relied upon to top-up Wreck Cove's reservoirs and sy...
AI summary The NS Power Dispatch Study discusses the operation of Wreck Cove Generation, emphasizing how seasonal rainfall affects reservoir levels and unit operations. The facility typically runs during winter and spring, shuts down in summer, and has specific procedures for managing water levels and unit operations for safety and environmental compliance.
4.5 Weather and Climate Forecasts 61 The Wreck Cove facility is dispatched based on the opportunity cost of water. The opportunity cost of water allows NS Power to manage a limited water supply to generate energy when it is the most valuab...
AI summary The Wreck Cove facility is dispatched using the opportunity cost of water, allowing NS Power to manage limited water resources efficiently. The PortOps® model is used to determine how to dispatch Wreck Cove to meet hydro targets over weekly or monthly periods, with incremental volumes subject to variable dispatch prices. Ancillary services are also optimized through PortOps® routines.
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AI summary This document is a page from a final NS Power dispatch study, which includes a redacted image. The content is related to energy dispatch processes and is part of a larger regulatory proceeding in Nova Scotia.
4.7 Hydro Capacity and Energy Optimization Practices65 The NS Power Market Procedures recognize that certain hydro facilities may be subject to firm limits on discharge over the day, either to preserve reservoir limits at prescribed minimu...
AI summary This section discusses hydro capacity and energy optimization practices, including the need to account for firm discharge limits, environmental considerations, and the integration of hydro facilities with grid operations. It also notes the importance of communication between hydro and grid operators, and the role of dispatch software in managing limitations, such as those at Wreck Cove. Long-term optimization work is ongoing but outside the scope of the current dispatch study.
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AI summary The document is a page from a final NS Power Dispatch Study, which includes a redacted image. It is part of a larger regulatory proceeding and may contain confidential information.
4.9 Economic Dispatch Models There are perhaps four dominant companies that provide electricity dispatching service. Over the years the industry has undergone a series of acquisitions and consolidations to yield the following landscape of...
AI summary The text discusses four dominant companies in the electricity dispatching industry: Power Costs, Inc., GE Energy Consulting, Energy Exemplar, and ABB/Hitachi (Hitachi Energy). Each company is described based on their products and services, including software platforms used for economic dispatch and system planning.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 47 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY even adapted and given different user interfaces and sold as a different product and it is still being used at PJM ISO....
AI summary The document discusses the challenges of modeling hydroelectric generation in economic dispatch platforms, noting the complexity of hydro configurations compared to fossil fuel plants. It highlights that while no platform perfectly models all variations, tools like PCI's Gentrader® can handle Nova Scotia's hydro assets effectively, supporting grid transition efforts.
4.10 Observations and Recommendations Based on our understanding of the Wreck Cove facility, its operating restriction, role in the portfolio of assets and quite unique configuration, it is quite understandable that the economic dispatch a...
AI summary The Wreck Cove facility is noted for its flexibility and unique role in providing black start ancillary support and operating under an AGC mechanism, which influences its economic dispatch in both Intraday and Real Time markets.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 48 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY But due to the availability and water management, the facility is less flexible and more complicated to operate than th...
AI summary The document discusses the unique configuration and operational complexity of the Wreck Cove hydroelectric facility, noting its hybrid characteristics between impoundment and run-of-the-river systems. It highlights the challenges in modeling such facilities with economic dispatch platforms like PLEXOS® and PortOps®, emphasizing that discrepancies in generation forecasts stem from the asset's uniqueness rather than model inaccuracies.
a. Observations O7: Wreck Cove is currently configured within PortOps® to optimize its economic value for Day Ahead and Intraday markets and includes optimization of both its energy and ancillary contribution to the portfolio (see O1). As...
AI summary Wreck Cove is optimized in PortOps® for Day Ahead and Intraday markets, with dispatch increasingly determined in Real Time by the Control Center. As renewable energy grows, the dispatch differences between Wreck Cove and Tufts Cove's gas units will increase, but this is expected as both become swing units for the system.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 49 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY and additional options for ancillaries will be included in the optimization calculation. The value of newly added ancil...
AI summary The document discusses the optimization of energy and ancillary services in the context of Nova Scotia Power's dispatch study. It outlines the need to allow the Marketing Desk to focus on Day Ahead and Intraday markets while the Control Center handles Real-Time dispatch optimization. The use of PCI's GenManager® is highlighted for its capabilities in Real-Time market calculations.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 50 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY SECTION 5:
AI summary This section of the NS Power Dispatch Study discusses the final analysis and findings related to the dispatch process. It includes detailed information on energy control systems, real-time economic dispatch, and other related procedures used in power management.
ECONOMIC DISPATCH In this Section we analyze the process of dispatching and this includes an analysis of the assumptions, the infrastructure, decision-making processes and the economic optimization parameters. For the purpose of this Repor...
AI summary This section discusses the concept of Economic Dispatch, focusing on optimizing the output of multiple units to meet load obligations and maintain system integrity while minimizing overall costs. The analysis takes a system-wide approach rather than examining individual assets.
5.1.2. NS Power Generation Resources NS Power's generation portfolio is composed of a mix of fuel and technology types that include coal, petroleum coke, light and heavy oil, natural gas, biomass, wind, and hydro. The NS Power System is ma...
AI summary NS Power's generation portfolio includes a mix of coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, wind, and hydro. The company's system has 22 thermal and biomass units with 2,000 MW of capacity, plus 375 MW of hydro and 80 MW of wind. In 2020, NS Power generated 8,288 GWh and purchased the remaining energy needs through PPAs for about $717 million.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 52 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY
AI summary The document presents a final version of the NS Power Dispatch Study, which is part of a regulatory proceeding. It includes a redacted page from the study, indicating that confidential information has been removed.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 53 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY the largest hydro unit in NS Power's portfolio. Finally, NS Power owns approximately 80 MW of wind resources.84 The gen...
AI summary The document discusses NS Power's generation portfolio, highlighting the largest hydro unit and the approximately 80 MW of wind resources owned by NS Power, with generating units distributed throughout the province.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 55 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY Finally, NS Power imports power via an interconnection with New Brunswick through one 345 kV tie and two 138 kV tie lin...
AI summary NS Power imports electricity through interconnections with New Brunswick and Newfoundland, enabling access to zero-carbon electricity and dispatchable firm capacity, which supports long-term rate stability.
5.2. Organization NS Power's Fuels Energy and Risk Management ("FERM", or "Marketing Desk")92 group is responsible for the purchasing of fuel and power, and for development and commitment of dispatch schedules for its generation fleet. The...
AI summary This section outlines the organizational structure of NS Power, detailing the roles of various groups such as FERM, NSPSO, Portfolio Optimization, and Enterprise Asset Management in managing fuel procurement, power generation, and system operations in Nova Scotia.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 56 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY MP-11, Scheduling and Dispatch, describes the process and format for the submission of both the Day Ahead Schedules and...
AI summary The document discusses the need to update MP-11, the scheduling and dispatch rules, to allow for the submission of a full set of Price Quantity (P-Q) pairs for generating facilities, rather than a subset. It highlights the inefficiencies of the current method, particularly in the context of increasing intermittent renewable generation, and notes the unique structure of Nova Scotia's power system due to NS Power's vertical integration.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 57 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY The trend in regions with a high penetration of renewable resources, such as the California Independent System Operator...
AI summary The document discusses the need for NS Power to improve dispatch efficiency, particularly with increasing renewable energy integration. It highlights practices from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), such as enhanced intraday scheduling and real-time dispatch, to improve system reliability and economic efficiency as intermittent resources become more prevalent.
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AI summary This page from the NS Power Dispatch Study contains a redacted image, likely related to dispatch operations or energy management processes. The document is part of a regulatory proceeding and may involve technical aspects of power system operations.
5.6. Optimization of Ancillary Requirements All generating units are configured within PortOps® to mimic the operation of the physical operation of the unit. Included in this configuration is a provision for ancillary products. Each unit i...
AI summary This section discusses the configuration of generating units within PortOps® to model ancillary products, considering factors like ramp-up capabilities and generator location. The configuration ensures that multiple ancillary products are not provided simultaneously, and their supply and cost are economically evaluated alongside energy supply during model iterations.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 60 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY economic solution it is calculating the total system cost, adjusting the dispatch of each unit (including the ancillary...
AI summary The document discusses the NS Power Dispatch Study, focusing on an economic solution that involves calculating total system costs, adjusting unit dispatch, and comparing results incrementally across iterations.
5.7. Dispatch Process and Order NS Power's Marketing Desk develops a Day-Ahead schedule that is sent to the Energy Control Center and the generation unit operators with the generation plans for the next operating day. The Day-Ahead schedul...
AI summary NS Power's Marketing Desk creates a Day-Ahead schedule for generator operations, which is used by the Energy Control Center for Real-Time dispatch. The schedule is determined using the PortOps® model and considers factors such as load forecasts, transmission constraints, and generator availability. The dispatch process is supported by software that ensures economic optimization.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 61 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - The New Brunswick Power Corporation System Operator ("NBPSO") initiates activation of Operating Reserve, or either pa...
AI summary Nova Scotia Power's dispatch process relies heavily on the Marketing Desk's optimized economic dispatch solution, which is then adjusted by the Control Center based on real-time conditions. The system is unique due to its isolation and the dominance of a single market participant. The Control Center's economic dispatch tools are less comprehensive than those used by the Marketing Desk and System Planning.
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AI summary The document is a final page from a dispatch study conducted by NS Power, which is part of a regulatory proceeding. It includes a redacted image and appears to be related to energy dispatch processes and operations.
Figure 11: Dispatch Optimization Process (As Is State)101 Responsibility Power Production Marketing Marketing Desk (FERM) Energy ( Energy Control Center (ECC) Fuels Finance Information 1 Unit Availability 2 Unit Deration 3 Import/Expo 4 Op...
AI summary Figure 11 outlines the dispatch optimization process, detailing responsibilities across Power Production, Marketing, and Energy Control Center (ECC) for various stages including Day Ahead and Intraday schedules, Real Time Dispatch, and Settlements After Dispatch. It highlights communication tools, information flows, and key entities involved in the process.
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AI summary This page from the NS Power Dispatch Study contains a redacted image, likely related to dispatch processes or system operations, though the content is not visible due to confidentiality measures.
Figure 12: Dispatch Optimization Process (To Be State)102 Information Provided Power Production on Marketi Marketing Desk (FERM) Energy Energy Control Center (ECC) Fuels Finance nance Unit Availability Unit Deration ſ 3 Import/l 4 Optimize...
AI summary Figure 12 illustrates the dispatch optimization process, outlining the flow of information and activities among various entities involved in power production, marketing, energy control, and fuels finance. It includes steps such as unit availability, import/export market activity, load forecasting, and settlement processes.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 64 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY Real time economic optimization of ancillary services is performed by the System Operator referring to the economic dis...
AI summary The document discusses the real-time economic optimization of ancillary services by the System Operator using data from the Control Center and Marketing Desk. It highlights the current reliance on coal-fired and natural gas units for ancillary support and suggests future reliance on wind with AGC, transmission lines, and smart grid initiatives. The communication between departments is noted as being manual, with a recommendation for an IT platform to standardize and automate information sharing.
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AI summary The document presents a final dispatch study conducted by NS Power, which includes a visual representation of the study's findings. The content is redacted due to confidentiality concerns, and no specific details are provided in the visible portion of the text.
5.8. Real-Time System Dispatch Optimization and System Constraints This Report also examines how additional automation and tools may assist in optimizing system dispatch to reflect near real-time system constraints with a focus on near-ter...
AI summary This section discusses the potential of automation and tools to optimize real-time system dispatch and reflect system constraints, focusing on near-term processes such as day-ahead unit commitment and intraday economic dispatch. It also mentions tools like PortOps® and PCI's GenTrader® used in various systems.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 70 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY of timing in terms of when the gas market trades and the electricity market scheduling for the Day Ahead market. R8: Re...
AI summary The document discusses the importance of real-time system optimization being managed exclusively by the Control Center, emphasizing the need for the Control Center to have the analytical tools necessary for co-optimization within the specified timeframe.
5.9. Opportunities for Alignment of Dispatch, Procurement and Resource Planning Models As stated in 5.7, in a vertically integrated system, which is largely the situation in Nova Scotia, and an organized wholesale market of the type that h...
AI summary This section discusses the alignment of dispatch, procurement, and resource planning models in vertically integrated systems like Nova Scotia's. It highlights the role of system operators in dispatch decisions based on cost and reliability, and the impact of 'out-of-market' payments on efficiency and investment incentives. Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch are central to power system operations, with objectives varying between vertically integrated utilities and market environments.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 71 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY more accurate the forecast is. Slow start units must be scheduled many hours before they can generate electricity. In c...
AI summary The document discusses the dispatch process and unit commitment in power system operations, emphasizing the differences between slow and fast start units, the use of operating reserves to manage uncertainty, and the role of NS Power's Marketing Desk and NSPSO in scheduling and real-time dispatch.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 73 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY dispatch capability in the event real-time load is less than scheduled in the integrated forward market. There are thre...
AI summary The document outlines the dispatch capability process in the event real-time load is less than scheduled in the integrated forward market. It describes three levels of dispatch with different processes, and mentions tools like PLEXOS® and PortOps® used in planning and dispatch activities.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 74 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - O9: PLEXOS® is being used by the System Planning group to perform long-term resource planning and to support activiti...
AI summary The document discusses Nova Scotia Power's use of PLEXOS® and PortOps® in long-term resource planning and real-time dispatch, emphasizing the co-optimization of energy and ancillary services. It also addresses communication between the Control Center and Marketing Group and the challenges of integrating intermittent renewables into real-time dispatch.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 75 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY requirements and prices.116 As the complexity of the system increases (see O9 above), new and additional options for an...
AI summary The document outlines recommendations for improving the optimization of energy dispatch and ancillary services in the Nova Scotia Power system. It suggests enhancements to the Marketing Desk and Control Center functions, data transfer between systems, and flexibility in natural gas procurement based on market conditions.
5.10.Benchmark to Best Practices of Dispatch Optimization The software used for system planning or for dispatch optimization (PLEXOS® and PortOps®) reflect platforms that are broadly used in the industry and reflect the industry's best und...
AI summary The document discusses the use of PLEXOS® and PortOps® software for dispatch optimization, noting their industry-wide adoption and respective strengths. PLEXOS® is good for long-term modeling but less flexible, while PortOps® is quicker and more adaptable for Day Ahead and Intraday markets. The Control Center's cooptimization relies on manual adjustments from the Marketing Desk.
a. Observations O16: For an optimum dispatch of facilities in the Real Time markets, the Control Center cannot simply rely on the schedule from the Marketing Desk that may be stale by at least two hours. As more intermittent non-dispatchab...
AI summary The Control Center cannot rely on outdated schedules from the Marketing Desk for optimal Real Time market dispatch, especially as more intermittent renewable resources are integrated, increasing dispatch complexity beyond current capabilities.
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 infrastructure and data integration to enhance system transparency and dynamic scheduling. Specifically, they suggest implementing an IT platform like PJM's Data Viewer and updating PortOps® to include real-time data for energy and ancillary services as system complexity increases.
5.11.Operating Reserves As the participation of renewables in the portfolio continues to increase, NS Power will need to carry incremental operating reserves to support the intermittency of renewables. Given the existing generation portfol...
AI summary As renewable energy increases in the generation portfolio, NS Power will need additional operating reserves, likely sourced from existing thermal units, leading to decreased capacity factors and increased cycling. The 2020 Integrated Resource Plan confirms that existing reserves are adequate, but Concentric suggests future analyses should consider economic dispatch optimization and variability in wind availability.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 78 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY should therefore not be qualified as excess operating reserve. Given the operational limitations of thermal asset's cyc...
AI summary NS Power's system is transitioning to a low-carbon profile, but legacy assets cause traditional reserve capacity calculations to appear excessive. However, due to operational limitations of thermal assets, these reserves are actually at industry-acceptable levels for reliability and load serving purposes.
5.12.Unit Performance Measurement The Audit Report reflects an inertia of previous audits where the power plant performance is analyzed one unit at a time.122 Given the uniqueness of NS Power's system where there is a dominant player and w...
AI summary The audit report highlights the limitations of analyzing power plant performance on a unit-by-unit basis, arguing that NS Power's system optimization occurs at the portfolio level. This approach may misrepresent individual asset performance, especially with the increasing use of flexible assets for system stability and the displacement of thermal units due to high wind penetration.
6.1 Purpose In this Section of the Report, we will present an assessment of the tools and opportunities for improvements in the automation of the dispatch process, and non-automated improvements to the dispatch process. This includes impro...
AI summary This section discusses the purpose of assessing tools and opportunities for improving the automation and non-automated aspects of the dispatch process, including co-optimization of energy and ancillary services. It references practices by CAISO, ISO-NE, PJM, and SPP in co-optimizing energy and ancillary services.
6.2 Human Touch and Automation As addressed in 5.7 above, there is significant amount of human interaction as to how information flows between the Marketing Desk and the Control Center. In the case of NS Power, the system operator is large...
AI summary This section discusses the interaction between the Marketing Desk and the Control Center at NS Power, highlighting the reliance on human judgment and experience in adjusting automated optimizations.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 81 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY In other ISOs, the system operator is responsible for maintaining minute by-minute system security by dispatching resou...
AI summary The document discusses how system operators in other ISOs use a least-cost, bid-based optimization algorithm to maintain system security and dispatch resources, including intermittent ones like wind plants. Wind plant operators historically did not participate in redispatch, requiring manual intervention by system operators, which was less efficient.
6.3 Current Tools - 1. PLEXOS ®.127 PLEXOS® is the economic dispatch tool utilized by NS Power's System Planning and Portfolio Optimization groups and it is sold and maintained by Energy Exemplar. The vendor produces one of the most popula...
AI summary This section outlines the current tools used by NS Power for economic dispatch and planning, including PLEXOS®, PortOps®, PRT®, and AWS TruePower. These tools are utilized for long-term planning, forecasting, and market support functions.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 82 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - 5. SCADA System (Open Systems International, Inc., "OSII"). OSII develps and maintains the SCADA/EMS131 system in use...
AI summary The document discusses the SCADA and PI-System technologies used by NS Power for monitoring and dispatching facilities in real time. OSII and OSISoft are highlighted as providers of these systems, with OSII specializing in SCADA platforms for smaller utilities.
6.4 Industry Tools Commercial software vendors continue to work to improve the quality and scope of the tools used for security-constrained economic dispatch. Because RTOs manage significantly greater resource fleets than vertically integr...
AI summary The text discusses advancements in industry tools for security-constrained economic dispatch (SCED) by commercial software vendors, with examples from NYISO and PJM. These tools help manage larger resource fleets and intermittent renewable energy sources, improving grid efficiency and reliability.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 83 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY interval. Under the long-term reforms, RT SCED cases will be manually selected by the PJM dispatcher in a new "pre-appr...
AI summary The document discusses the long-term reforms to RT SCED case approval processes under PJM, where manual selection by dispatchers or automatic approval by software will maintain the same periodicity as previous cases unless intervention is required. It also highlights future challenges and opportunities in grid management due to increased renewable penetration and technological innovations like AI and Big Data.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 84 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY The Company can explore several choices to acquire such capabilities for the Control Center. The first entails extendin...
AI summary NS Power is evaluating options to enhance the Control Center's capabilities, including extending PortOps® or acquiring PCI GenTrader®, which is used by many ISOs. The investment aligns with current and future strategies being considered by NS Power.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 85 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY - R5: Leverage the functionality within an IT Platform ("R1") to log and communicate current system status and issues i...
AI summary The document outlines requirements for enhancing IT platform functionality to improve real-time communication of system status and data transfer between the Control Center and Marketing Desk. It also mentions the need to calculate system marginal generator costs and shadow prices for ancillaries based on load-following unit costs.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 86 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY SECTION 7:
AI summary The document presents a final section of the NS Power Dispatch Study, focusing on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and related operational systems such as the Security-Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED) and Real-Time Security-Constrained Economic Dispatch (RT SCED). It references various energy management systems and technologies used in power dispatch operations.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 87 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY
AI summary This document is a final page from a dispatch study conducted by NS Power, which includes a redacted image. The content is related to energy dispatch processes and systems, though specific details are confidential and removed.
7.4 Dynamic System Inertia Constraints to Future Levels of Wind Resources Inertia, traditionally provided by large rotating generators, plays an important role in maintaining grid reliability. The stored energy in these generators can temp...
AI summary This section discusses how the displacement of conventional fossil-based generation by inverter-based systems like wind and solar reduces grid inertia, potentially affecting system reliability. It notes that while this reduces inertia, it may also reduce the inertia needed, and solutions like Fast Frequency Response (FFR) help mitigate these issues. NS Power is examining these constraints as it expands renewable generation.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 1 Page 92 of 92 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) FINAL NS POWER DISPATCH STUDY
AI summary The document is a final page from the NS Power Dispatch Study, which includes a redacted image. The content appears to be related to energy dispatch processes and systems, though specific details are confidential and removed.
Generation Portfolio and Load As detailed in Section 5 of the Dispatch Study, NS Power's generation portfolio as of 2022 was a mix of fuel and technology types that include coal, petroleum coke, light and heavy oil, natural gas, biomass, w...
AI summary NS Power's generation portfolio as of 2022 includes a mix of coal, petroleum coke, oil, natural gas, biomass, wind, and hydro, with approximately 595 MWs of wind generation.
C0032664 NSEB IR-5 Attachment 3 Page 2 of 9 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) 374 out of 2,292 MWs of installed capacity. Given new provincial legislation, the generation capacity is expected to evolve to accelerate thermal retir...
AI summary The document discusses the evolution of Nova Scotia's power generation capacity, including the retirement of thermal plants and increased reliance on renewables. It highlights the need for NS Power to manage a more complex system with higher renewable integration and reduced coal use, suggesting the need for independent analytical capabilities to optimize dispatch in real-time.
Current Economic Dispatch In its current process, NSPI Marketing creates a Day Ahead and Intraday, (up to 4 hours ahead) Optimized Dispatch Plan using the PortOps® solution. NSPI Marketing provides this Plan to the NSPSO, and it becomes th...
AI summary NSPI Marketing currently creates a Day Ahead and Intraday Optimized Dispatch Plan using PortOps® and provides it to the NSPSO, which manually optimizes and dispatches in real-time. However, with the addition of wind and battery storage, NS Power seeks automation tools for near real-time optimization to ensure grid reliability and economic efficiency.
Figure 3: Hour-Start ("HS") Load Patterns in Nova Scotia нѕ 0.01 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.95 0.99 862.8636 928.33 988.172 1022.618 1053.064 1088.556 1144.23 1224.42 1377.571 1490.534 1558.421 1681.746 1812.265 804.2796 88...
AI summary Figure 3 presents Hour-Start ('HS') load patterns in Nova Scotia, illustrating load values at different percentile levels across multiple hours. This data provides insight into electricity demand patterns over time, which is essential for grid planning and resource management.
Table 2: Annual Cost of Theoretical Suboptimal Hourly Dispatch Future Portfolio, $ millions Lo ad/Wir ıd E eviatio n ( MW) Probabilities 45% 4 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 1% Price Delta ($/MWh) -29 -58 -87 -117 -146 -175 -204 -233 - -26...
AI summary Table 2 presents the annual cost of a theoretical suboptimal hourly dispatch for a future portfolio, measured in millions of dollars. The table shows varying costs based on different probabilities and price deltas, highlighting the financial implications of suboptimal dispatch scenarios.
REDACTED 1 Request IR-9: 24 volumetric targets for hydro generation and an optimized schedule for dispatchable load 25 from the NS Power Marketing Portfolio Optimizer (NSPIPO) to the Energy Control Centre 26 Portfolio Optimizer (ECCPO), co...
AI summary The document outlines a request for volumetric targets for hydro generation and an optimized dispatch schedule from the NS Power Marketing Portfolio Optimizer (NSPIPO) to the Energy Control Centre Portfolio Optimizer (ECCPO). It also discusses the System Dispatch Dashboard (SDD) and the Outage Request Platform (ORP), emphasizing automation and streamlining processes.