Generation resources are the backbone of the electric system, helping the grid meet reliability, sustainability, and cost optimization goals. Frequency regulation in California is chiefly the responsibility of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), and is accomplished via the following objectives:

• Continuously matching generation resources to demand to keep the system’s frequency at 60 hertz.
• Assuring an appropriate level of generation reserves exist in the event of a forced outage.
• Operating the energy and ancillary services markets to meet reliability at the lowest possible cost.
  

Each of the above challenges depends on meticulous generation data from each California Generation resource. All new resources are integrated into the CAISO control system via the New Resource Implementation (NRI) process, which enables CAISO to forecast the impact of new resources on the system’s ability to meet demand and economically dispatch energy resources in the market.

The NRI process is comprised of six “buckets” or phases of related and sequenced tasks, which provide CAISO with the information needed to ensure a safe, reliable, and economic integration of each new resource into the grid.

The NRI process relies heavily on a web-based interface known as the Resource Interconnection Management System (RIMS) and the project getting into an appropriate Full Network Model (FNM) Build. The NRI Bucket System is derived from the FNM Build and the resource’s project implementation date. These Bucket timelines and deliverables are set to support the resource’s capability and integration into the market systems within the CAISO.

Although the NRI implementation schedule can vary, CAISO’s current process requires approximately three months, with precise milestones prescribed throughout the process. The earlier buckets are focused on precise data collection and contract negotiation. The first buckets generally require weeks to complete. Later buckets are focused on telemetering and confirming data is a faithful representation of reality. The later buckets generally take days to complete. Below is a summary of those buckets.

Bucket 1:
Focused on planning functions and representing the resource in the CAISO’s Full Network Model.

Bucket 2:
Focused on regulatory contracts. In addition to facilitating Bucket 2, GridSME can advise clients in negotiating required agreements.

Bucket 3:
Focus is validation and preparing the market model for the resource’s participation. These items are the most critical to reach the desired implementation date with the CAISO. Bucket 3 deliverables need careful consideration and planning, and they need to be accepted 30 days in advance of the resource’s estimated commercial operation. GridSME will assure that these critical items are properly submitted.

Bucket 4:
Includes CAISO synchronization approval and the trial operation procedures that need to be followed by the Generation Owner and Scheduling Coordinator. The remaining deliverables in Bucket 5 are the final documentation of meters and RIG prior to requesting the project’s Commercial Operation. The Scheduling Coordinator has some responsibilities in Bucket 5, however, GridSME can expedite bringing your project through this critical period toward commercial operation.

Bucket 5:
includes CAISO synchronization approval and the trial operation procedures that need to be followed by the Generation Owner and Scheduling Coordinator. The remaining deliverables in Bucket 5 are the final documentation of meters and RIG prior to requesting the project’s Commercial Operation. The Scheduling Coordinator has some responsibilities in Bucket 5, however, GridSME can expedite bringing your project through this critical period toward commercial operation.

Bucket 6:
Project close-out with the CAISO. The GridSME team will assure that your project closes-out successfully as an integrated part of the CAISO, assuring a reliable electric supply.

The GridSME NRI team understands the current CAISO NRI process and requirements and has developed a system and process that seamlessly integrates with the CAISO NRI process. These customized systems and processes allow our customers the ability to stay ahead of the timelines that CAISO designates and meet the project’s scheduled availability.

Understanding Your Project’s Objectives
If you are embarking on this NRI journey alone, GridSME recommends you answer the following three questions. This will help your project avoid many of the common pitfalls that lead to deficiencies and costly delays to your project. 

1. What are your project’s critical milestone, timeline, and schedule dates?
2. What Resource Adequacy (RA) obligations does your project have?   
3. What specific obligations do you have under your power purchase agreement (PPA)?
   

The Advantages of Hiring a Guide to Navigate the NRI Process
The NRI process is critical for CAISO to ensure grid reliability and optimize the market, but it is also very complex. In total, the NRI process and its six buckets include approximately 50 steps, requirements, or “to-do’s” for the resource owner to accomplish. Each step presents an opportunity to miss a CAISO requirement and put the project’s schedule at risk. An NRI guide brings you not only access to procedural knowledge to avoid the common pitfalls, but also a full understanding of what all process stakeholders require. For example, one principal stakeholder of the process is the generator’s PPA off-taker. A resource can complete the NRI process on time and meet all CAISO requirements, but still fail to meet its RA obligations to its off-taker. Off-takers rely and expect the resource to meet its RA requirements and get its RA attributes in the market on time. To do this, the resource owner or NRI guide must monitor all communications from CAISO and translate that information into updated, useful, and actionable information so that submittals to CAISO are completed accurately and on schedule. The NRI process and other steps to get a resource to COD are interrelated and experience navigating these interrelated processes is key.

GridSME’s NRI Portal
GridSME manages the NRI process, coordinates communications between the parties, and manages all these requirements with its NRI Portal. The GridSME NRI Portal provides our clients with access to a site dedicated to your NRI project, which includes critical dates for submittals that include any reviews necessary to make sure that your documentation is accepted the first time it is submitted to CAISO. This tool avoids rework and reduces the risk of missing project milestones. The GridSME team actively monitors the resource’s NRI progress to assure nothing has been overlooked and to stay ahead of the next steps.

GridSME adds value to our clients’ NRI projects by understanding the data required, the data sources, assessing the quality and suitability of submitted data, requirement deadlines, and how the data should be packaged and submitted to CAISO to assure that documentation is accepted with the least amount of back and forth or rework. The CAISO NRI Process is complex and ever-changing, which is a function of CAISO responding to the grid’s ever-changing needs and demands. Any misstep in the NRI process can result in delays in getting a resource into the market or to COD, which can have material financial impacts for the resource’s owner.



The CAISO’s NRI webpage is located at the URL below:

http://www.caiso.com/participate/Pages/NewResourceImplementation/Default.aspx

The GridSME NRI Team understands there are significant risks to mismanaging the deployment of a new resource. These risks can be financial in nature if contractual deadlines are missed and they can become safety concerns if appropriate technical information is missing or omitted. We are committed to collaborating with our clients to avoid missteps in the NRI process that can negatively impact our clients and/or grid reliability. It can be a huge advantage to have an experienced NRI process guide to manage these risks, allow your team to stay focused and avoid distractions or surprises, and achieve COD on time.

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