GridLab and Grid Strategies LLC have launched a new educational effort, CleanNERC, designed to represent the interests of clean energy technologies and increase the understanding of these technologies by the regulators of electric reliability.
A primary focus will be participating at the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) and providing NERC and its stakeholders with information about the capabilities of inverter-based resources such as wind, solar and battery storage. NERC is a nonprofit organization given authority by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to regulate the reliability and security of the North American electric grid.
Ric O’Connell, executive director of GridLab, will lead the CleanNERC project. GridLab is a nonprofit that provides technical expertise on the design, operation and attributes of a flexible and dynamic grid. O’Connell started GridLab in 2017 after 12 years with global engineering firm Black & Veatch. He has provided engineering support for more than 8 GW of utility-scale solar projects worldwide.
Michael Goggin, vice president of Grid Strategies LLC, will be the primary representative of CleanNERC on NERC’s key committees and task forces. Grid Strategies is a consultancy focused on reliable and efficient delivery and integration of clean energy into the bulk power system. Goggin has served on various NERC committees and led technical power market and transmission work for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) for 10 years.
CleanNERC has garnered the support of the wind, solar and storage industries:
“Solar technology is growing rapidly, and it’s critical that reliability standards keep pace with that growth. CleanNERC will help ensure solar energy can continue its expansion and increase solar’s contributions to electric reliability,” says Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association.
“We look forward to partnering with CleanNERC to build on the wind industry’s history of being good citizens of the grid and working with system operators and planners to provide clear rules of the road so wind can continue to contribute to system reliability and resilience,” notes Sari Fink, senior director of electricity and transmission policy at AWEA.
“Energy storage serves as a central catalyst for a more flexible and reliable grid, and the NERC reliability rules and standards must evolve to incorporate these advances. We look forward to engaging with CleanNERC in this important work,” adds Marissa Gillett, vice president of external relations at the Energy Storage Association.
