Topic:"System Reliability" in M10504

Regional Integration Strategy IRP Action Plan Item 1 is: Develop a Regional Integration Strategy to provide access to firm capacity and low-carbon energy while increasing the reliability of Nova Scotia's interconnection with North America....

AI summary Nova Scotia Power (NSP) aims to develop a Regional Integration Strategy with three components: Near Term Firm Imports, Reliability Tie Development, and Regional Interconnection Analysis. The strategy seeks to enhance interconnection reliability with North America, secure low-carbon energy, and support Nova Scotia's commitment to phasing out coal generation by 2030.

Reliability Tie Development Part 1b of the Regional Integration Strategy is: Immediately commencing the development of a Reliability Tie and Regional Interconnection via an appropriate regulatory process with target in-service dates as fol...

AI summary Nova Scotia Power is developing a Reliability Tie and Regional Interconnection to enhance system reliability and integrate renewable energy, with target in-service dates from 2025-2029 and 2027-2035. The project includes a 345kV AC transmission line from Onslow, NS to Salisbury, NB, aiming to reduce wind curtailment and meet synchronous inertia requirements.

Thermal Plant Retirement, Redevelopment, and Replacement Plan IRP Action Plan Item 3 is: Initiate a thermal plant retirement, redevelopment and replacement plan. This Action Plan item has 4 elements that are updated on the following slides...

AI summary The IRP Action Plan Item 3 focuses on retiring, redeveloping, and replacing thermal plants to meet the 80% Renewable Energy Standard by 2030 while ensuring reliability and affordability for customers.

Trenton 5 Retirement Plan - In order to meet ongoing firm peak load and planning reserve margin requirements, replacement firm capacity is required before Trenton 5 can be economically retired in order to maintain adequate system reliabili...

AI summary The Trenton 5 Retirement Plan requires securing replacement firm capacity through near-term imports or a new combustion turbine (CT) before economic retirement. Retirement is delayed to 2024 due to planning timelines, with operating restrictions to avoid capital investment. A transmission study assesses retirement impacts, and NS Power engages employees affected by coal unit retirements.

Combustion Turbine Update - The 2020 IRP found that significant Combustion Turbine (CT) additions were required, including under accelerated coal retirement and more stringent emissions reduction scenarios. - For example, Scenario 3.1C cum...

AI summary The 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) identified a need for significant Combustion Turbine (CT) additions in Nova Scotia, especially under accelerated coal retirement and stricter emissions scenarios. NS Power is evaluating CT deployment options and locations, considering gas supply and transmission needs, while also exploring alternatives like BESS and coal-to-gas conversions to reduce CT requirements by 2030.

Wind Procurement Strategy Part 3d of the Thermal Plant Retirement item is: Initiate a wind procurement strategy, targeting 50-100 MW new installed capacity by 2025 and up to 350 MW by 2030. This strategy will solicit Nova Scotia-based mark...

AI summary The document outlines a wind procurement strategy targeting 50-100 MW by 2025 and up to 350 MW by 2030, informed by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It emphasizes the need for system stability studies to assess grid impacts and potential requirements for ancillary services like Fast Frequency Response (FFR), especially in advance of the Reliability Tie commissioning.

Wind Integration Studies In parallel with the wind procurement strategy for additional renewable resources, a series of studies are ongoing to determine what system or operational supports are required to enable the highest levels of wind...

AI summary The document discusses ongoing wind integration studies in Nova Scotia to determine system and operational supports needed for high wind integration. It references the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan, NERC guidelines, and past system events like the Texas Odessa and South Australia blackout for lessons learned. Replacing traditional synchronous generators with inverter-based resources is highlighted as a challenge requiring careful planning.

2022 Workplan - Complete the development of robust transmission planning models required for the scope of studies. - Perform studies identified in the Scope of Work. - Develop documentation and guidelines including: - Planning study modell...

AI summary The 2022 Workplan outlines key activities related to transmission planning and system reliability, including the development of models, guidelines for inverter-based control systems, system strength recommendations, and inertia guidelines as traditional generators are phased out.

1. Scope of Evergreen IRP 2022 Update – Assumptions AREA and the MEUs agree that changes have occurred since 2020 that warrant significant modeling updates. On Slide 2 of the 2022 Evergreen IRP Study Scope, NS Power states that the "evergr...

AI summary AREA and MEUs emphasize the need for updated assumptions in the Evergreen IRP 2022 study, requiring stakeholder input on GHG compliance modeling, Net Zero 2035 targets, firm import capacity, interconnection projects (TSR 411/412), battery storage, wind integration, and coal conversions. They stress transparency and timely information sharing to ensure assumptions reflect current data.

Planning Environment Changes There are a few points where we were not perfectly clear about NS Power's intentions regarding the changes in the planning environment. - a) NS Rate Base Procurement: We assume that NS Power will include this a...

AI summary The text outlines NS Power's uncertainties regarding resource commitments, Mersey Redevelopment evaluation, and reliability reassessments for transmission links. It notes updated wind resource modeling to address stability issues and the need to reflect early findings in IRP modeling.

Reliability Tie Considerations We recommend that the base case for the IRP include significant schedule contingency for the Reliability Tie construction schedule. Normally, there would be some "known unknowns" contingency built into the pl...

AI summary The text emphasizes the need for significant schedule and cost contingency in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the Reliability Tie project, citing complexities in collaboration with New Brunswick Power and ongoing supply-chain constraints. It recommends robust planning to address potential delays and cost increases, treating on-time delivery as a sensitivity case.

Opportunities from Dispatch Improvements While the details of any procurement of IT systems recommended in Concentric's Dispatch Study are outside the scope of the IRP, the IRP planning team should coordinate with the market and operations...

AI summary The text highlights opportunities from improved dispatch systems, emphasizing coordination between IRP and operations teams to model IT system benefits. It stresses evaluating dispatch within the entire asset portfolio, not just individual generators, and suggests leveraging hydro units for AGC to reduce ancillary service needs. The Dispatch Study's findings on portfolio-wide assessments are referenced.

Attachment 2 NS Power Responses to Stakeholder Comments Theme Stakeholder Comment NS Power Response Evergreen Scenarios, Assumptions and Sensitivities Resource Insight – Consumer Advocate (CA) Maritime Link and Labrador Island Link reliabi...

AI summary NS Power responds to the Consumer Advocate's comment regarding the reliability of the Maritime Link and Labrador Island Link, stating that it will retain the ELCC values from the 2020 IRP for the evergreen work, as these values reflect long-term assumptions.

Planning Environment Changes Maritime Link (ML) Base Block and Reliability - Nalcorfiled its "Reliability and Resource Adequacy Study 2022 Update" onOctober 3, 2022 which pointsto both: - On-Island capacity constraints in meeting Newfoundl...

AI summary Nalcor's 2022 study highlights on-island capacity constraints in NL and uncertainty around the Labrador Island Link's reliability, making additional Maritime Link imports unavailable. The 2020 IRP identified the Maritime Link as a potential resource, but near-term availability is uncertain.

Reliability Tie

AI summary The document section titled 'Reliability Tie' is introduced, though no detailed content or analysis is provided in the chunk. Further context would be required to elaborate on the topic.

Action Item 1b The Reliability Tie is a second 345kV AC transmission line from Onslow, NS to Salisbury, NB. For internal planning purposes, the Nova Scotia portion of this new transmission line has been designated as L-8005. This enhanced...

AI summary The Reliability Tie project involves constructing a 345kV AC transmission line between Onslow, NS, and Salisbury, NB, designated as L-8005 in Nova Scotia. It aims to enhance system reliability by integrating domestic wind generation, reducing curtailment, meeting inertia requirements, and expanding access to energy markets. The 2022 work plan focused on permitting and design.

TSR 411 - NS Power completed a transmission planning study (TSR 411) to study the system impact associated with a 550MW import to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick, consistent with the Regional Integration Strategy evaluated in the 2020 IRP a...

AI summary NS Power conducted a transmission planning study (TSR 411) assessing a 550MW import from New Brunswick, aligning with the 2020 IRP and Atlantic Loop project. The 2022 study evaluated resource changes, including coal-to-gas conversions, battery storage, and wind generation, concluding system stability under load and dynamic modeling. The study advanced to the Facilities Study stage in 2022.

Action Plan Item 3a As discussed in the last IRP Action Plan Update (January 2022), the target retirement date for Trenton 5 was updated from 2023 to 2024. In order to continue to maintain resource adequacy while minimizing capital investm...

AI summary The retirement date for Trenton 5 was updated from 2023 to 2024, with operating restrictions to limit its hours. Recent IRP updates may impact retirement timelines, requiring replacement firm capacity via imports and the ECEI BESS project. NS Power will provide further updates in the 2023 10-Year System Outlook Report.

Fast Acting Generation – CT IRP Action Plan Item 3c The 2020 IRP identified that new fast acting generation is required to support coal phase out and thermal unit retirements, integration of variable renewable generation, and load growth d...

AI summary The 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) identified the need for new fast acting generation to support coal phase out and system reliability with the integration of variable renewable energy. NS Power conducted a survey of available fast acting generation technologies, focusing on peaking power, ancillary services, and hydrogen compatibility.

System Strength Analysis and study of the reduction in system strength following the retirement of thermal generating units has highlighted the potential for adverse impact to the grid and the solutions are not as straightforward as for th...

AI summary The analysis highlights the challenges to system strength following the retirement of thermal generating units, emphasizing the need for adequate short circuit ratio, fault current, and system strength across the province. These issues can lead to slow recovery and increased risks of harmonics and sub-synchronous interactions, with synchronous machines being the only reliable resource currently available for system strength support.

KEY FINDINGS Based on the common themes observed, the following are the key guiding principles to inform the Action Plan and Roadmap Items: - Variable renewable capacity additions are required to meet the 2030 targets. Up to 1500MW of addi...

AI summary The key findings emphasize the need for 1500MW of additional wind and 200MW of solar capacity by 2030, the critical role of the Reliability Tie and battery storage, the value of the Atlantic Loop for lower costs and emissions, and the importance of emerging technologies like SMRs. NS Power has updated its 2020 IRP Action Plan based on 2023 modeling.

CAPACITY ADDITIONS The optimized capacity additions highlight the transition of the power system to an increased penetration of variable renewable energy, backed by fast acting firm capacity resources (Battery and Combustion Turbine) as th...

AI summary The document discusses capacity additions in Nova Scotia's power system, emphasizing the integration of variable renewable energy with battery and combustion turbine resources. Fuel conversions (coal-to-gas, coal-to-oil) are highlighted as low-cost, reliable firm capacity sources during peak demand or resource unavailability, aligning with common industry observations.

Integration Assets - The reliability tie[1](#page-7-3) is required in all scenarios to support the integration of variable renewable generation (wind and solar) and to serve as the first leg of the Atlantic Loop (the latter in the with Atl...

AI summary The document discusses the necessity of the Reliability Tie for integrating variable renewable energy (wind and solar) and supporting the Atlantic Loop. It also highlights the addition of synchronous condensers by 2030 to support wind integration, with future studies confirming additional needs. Figures illustrate new resource capacity by 2030, 2035, and 2050.

GENERATION MIX The evergreen IRP modeling results demonstrate that annual generation profiles are increasingly decarbonized through the planning horizon in line with environmental policy changes in 2030 and 2035 (please refer toFigure 4)....

AI summary The IRP modeling highlights a decarbonized generation mix by 2035, driven by wind energy and grid-scale batteries, with peaking gas turbines. Wind generation increases across scenarios, but curtailment ranges 10–45% due to integration constraints. No Atlantic Loop scenarios show higher emissions but achieve over 90% reduction from 2005 levels.

ITEM 1: REGIONAL INTEGRATION STRATEGY Develop a Regional Integration Strategy to provide access to firm capacity and low-carbon energy while increasing the reliability of Nova Scotia's interconnection with North America. With virtually no...

AI summary Nova Scotia seeks to develop a Regional Integration Strategy to enhance access to firm capacity and low-carbon energy, improve interconnection reliability with North America, and support wind integration. The strategy is necessary due to limited hydro power potential and coal phase-out, requiring a reliability tie independent of the Atlantic Loop.

Item 1a: Reliability Tie Continue to develop the Reliability Tie via an appropriate regulatory process with target in-service date of 2028.

AI summary The proceeding recommends continuing the development of the Reliability Tie through a regulatory process, with a target in-service date of 2028. This emphasizes the importance of system reliability and long-term infrastructure planning.

Item 1b: Regional Integration Continue working with neighboring jurisdictions in support of the Atlantic Loop and other opportunities for regional integration, conducting detailed engineering and economic studies for firm import options re...

AI summary The text emphasizes advancing regional integration through collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions, focusing on the Atlantic Loop and other initiatives. It calls for engineering and economic studies to assess firm import options requiring new transmission investments, with evaluations of supply security, emission intensity, and dispatch flexibility.

Item 3c: Fast Acting Generating Capacity Initiate development of new fast-acting generating capacity resourcesto address growing demand, balance variable renewable generation, and maintain the reliability of the Nova Scotia system. Scope w...

AI summary Initiate development of new fast-acting generating capacity (300MW by 2027, 300-600MW by 2030) with fuel flexibility including hydrogen to balance renewables and maintain system reliability.

Item 3d: Procurement Strategy for Variable Renewable Resources Develop a procurement plan for incremental variable renewable resources, targeting approximately 1000MW[5](#page-15-7) by 2030. Anticipated renewable procurements and programs,...

AI summary The document outlines a procurement plan targeting 1000MW of variable renewable resources by 2030, excluding 372MW from the Rate Base Procurement program. Programs like Green Choice and Community Solar will contribute, alongside studies to reduce curtailment of renewable generation.

Item 3g: Synchronous Condensers Complete generator site-specific system impact studies for new variable renewable generation to assess the need for synchronous condenser support. Progress the development of 100 - 200MVA of synchronous cond...

AI summary The document outlines the need for system impact studies for new variable renewable generation and proposes developing 100-200MVA of synchronous condensers by 2030 to enhance system reliability and strength as renewable energy integration increases.

ITEM 2: SUSTAINING CAPITAL Pursue economic reinvestment in existing hydro and combustion turbines with individual capital applications as applicable; economic justification as part of a capital application will be required to confirm a dec...

AI summary The document outlines sustaining capital strategies for existing hydro and thermal units, requiring economic justification for Mersey hydro redevelopment. It emphasizes monitoring IRP assumptions, unit reliability, and triggering ELCC/PRM studies for significant deviations.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS – DRAFT RESULTS The following are high level key findings and insights from the draft results: - All scenarios modeled incorporate the addition of significant capacity of variable renewables resources, which will requir...

AI summary The draft results highlight the need for further study on variable renewables' system impacts, decreasing gas generation post-2030 coal phase-out, lower NPVRR with Atlantic Loop in-service dates, and increased curtailment with rising wind capacity. Optimized plans balance gas resources and emerging tech to meet 2035 net-zero targets.

CE1-E1-R2 NZ 2035-CURRENT POLICY AND TRENDS -NO ATLANTIC LOOP Preliminary Scenario Metrics and Evaluation 26 Year NPVRR ($MM 2025$) $19,263 Key Input Assumptions and Observations(as compared to CE1-E1-R1) Capacity Expansion 26 Year NPVRR w...

AI summary The scenario analysis shows higher NPVRR and emissions without the Atlantic Loop, with 750 MW SMR by 2050 and earlier gas capacity additions, leading to increased reliance on emitting generation.

SOLAR - Some scenarios select up to ~150 MW of grid scale solar by 2030 if Atlantic Loop is delayed or not included in the scenario - Highest installed capacity of solar is reflected in the HDER scenario by design, increasing to 1500 MW in...

AI summary The text outlines solar capacity scenarios, noting up to 150 MW by 2030 if Atlantic Loop is delayed and 1500 MW in the 2040s under the HDER scenario. High solar penetration requires analysis of grid stability, system strength, and operability.

PLANNING ENVIRONMENT CHANGES ADDITIONAL FIRM IMPORTS AND RELIABILITY - Nalcor filed its "Reliability and Resource Adequacy Study 2022 Update" on October 3, 2022 which points to both: - o On-Island capacity constraints in meeting NL load re...

AI summary Nalcor's 2022 Reliability and Resource Adequacy Study highlights on-island capacity constraints and reliability issues with the Labrador Island Link (LIL), leading NS Power to assume the ML Block B resource is unavailable and adjust the Effective Load-Carrying Capability (ELCC) of the Nova Scotia Block from 98% to 95%.