Meeting Summary - 04/21/2025 OWG Meeting

▶️1 - Antitrust Admonition

▶️2 - ERCOT Updates and System Operation Report

• March's peak demand was 62.9 gigawatts, marking a new record for the month.
• This peak demand is 7.6 gigawatts higher than last March's record.
• Wind reached a new record of 28.5 gigawatts in megawatt output.
• Solar achieved a new record of 26.3 gigawatts.
• A new solar penetration record was set at 56.6%.
• Combined renewable output reached approximately 40 gigawatts.
• The highest combined renewable penetration reached 76.1%.

▶️3 - Texas Reliability Entity Report

• Texas RE’s Spring Standards Workshop is on Wednesday, the 23rd; it's hybrid/in-person and posted on the Texas RE calendar.
• Texas RE is working on revisions to the BAL-001-TRE standard:
• Main update: include Primary Frequency Response (PFR) measurement criteria for battery energy storage systems (BESS).
• Goal is to release a draft for comments by early summer, though they’re a bit behind schedule.
• Texas RE’s Quarterly Board and MRC meeting is scheduled for May.
• At the NERC level, several actions are tied to FERC Order 901:
• A new Category 2 IBR definition is being balloted:
• Includes all IBRs ≥20 MW and connected at ≥60 kV.
• Three related standards projects are being balloted soon, impacting:
• MOD-032, MOD-033, TOP-003, and IRO-010 (all related to IBR modeling requirements).
  
  

▶️4 - NPRR1070 Planning Criteria for GTC Exit Solutions – Tabled. No updates required at this time

• ERCOT was previously working on a rewrite of the existing NPRR.
• No updates are available for the group at this time.
• The responsibility is with EDF Renewables and joint commerce, and they are continuing to work on it.

▶️5 - NPRR1278 Establishing Advanced Grid Support Service as an Ancillary Service

• ERCOT's NOGRR272 for grid forming support is the basis for this service, matching its reliability measures.
• The service resembles Black Start, operating on a yearly contract rather than a traditional purchase system.
• The goal is to create a flexible, evolving ancillary service that allows ERCOT to adapt to new requirements through an annual RFP process.
• There's debate on whether it should be a mandate or competitive service, with cost concerns mentioned but not fully addressed.
• The process is modeled after Black Start, using identical formulas and procedures.
• The technical side has been reviewed by PDCWG, with a summary available for further detail.
• The group acknowledged that it is ultimately deciding on whether this will be a mandate or ancillary service.
• Technical feedback provided in February will be incorporated as necessary, ensuring the service meets ERCOT's needs.

▶️6 - Other Business

• No additional business was brought up.
• Next meeting scheduled for May 13.