Fuel cell that carries energy generated from another source. It can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity with water as the only byproduct, or it can be burned for heat. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources–renewable energy such as solar or wind, or gas plants, nuclear, and other energy sources–which dictate whether it can be considered “clean” or not.
An entity that is hired by an Independent System Operator (ISO) or Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) to oversee and assess the operations of the wholesale electricity market. Its primary role is to ensure fair and competitive market practices by monitoring market participant behavior and identifying potential market manipulation or design flaws.
A non-profit organization that manages the electricity grid and wholesale electricity markets within a specific geographic region. Its primary role is to ensure the reliable and efficient delivery of electricity, balancing supply and demand in real-time and overseeing fair competition among market participants.
In the context of the grid, it refers to the energy stored in the rotating machinery of generators, such as the turbines of a gas plant or hydropower station.
The turbines rotate at the same rate as the grid–60 cycles per second (hertz) in the United States–and help provide stability for the grid, particularly during spikes in power demand or other disturbances. If the power plant goes offline for any reason, the inertia of the turbines maintains the grid’s frequency for a window of time while another power source is brought online to replace the offline generator.
Certain types of renewable energy, such as wind and solar photovoltaic, do not use rotational generators, instead using electronic inverters. But these renewable technologies include electronic sensors that can respond to changes in frequency quickly, and can replace the need for rotational inertia.Synthetic inertia – Inertia provided without synchronous generators and refers to the transfer of active power into the grid from a grid-forming inverter. This type of inertia can provide the same, or even better, stabilization services as traditional inertia because it has an instantaneous effect.
The process of connecting new power sources, like renewable energy generators or energy storage systems, to the existing grid infrastructure. It involves integrating these new sources with the grid’s transmission and distribution networks, ensuring a stable and reliable flow of electricity.
The line in which power generation and transmission projects must wait after they have requested to connect to the electric grid. These queues are managed by grid operators like ISOs (Independent System Operators) or RTOs (Regional Transmission Organizations). Projects are evaluated for their impact on the grid and the necessary upgrades before they can connect and deliver electricity.
A power source whose availability and output fluctuate due to natural variations in its energy source. This means the power supply isn’t consistently available, often linked to weather conditions like wind speed, time of day, or season. Renewable energy output can be forecast and stored in battery systems to maintain grid reliability.
Technology that provides the interface between the grid and energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage, converting direct current to alternating current (which is how electricity is delivered in the United States). It is used to convert power output from solar cells, batteries, and wind turbines into power that can be injected into the grid.
A power generation or storage device (such as a battery) that connects to the electrical grid through an inverter, a power electronic device that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). These resources, including solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines, and battery energy storage systems, are increasingly important for grid stability.
ISO New England
Historically refers to industrial facilities with high electrical demand. They had long interconnection timelines that allowed for more study time under traditional planning processes. Currently, emerging large loads include cryptocurrency mining, data centers (conventional and artificial intelligence), oil field loads, and hydrogen production facilities. Many have a shorter timeline to interconnect (months vs. years) to the grid. In addition to these rapid timelines, some emerging large loads introduce new challenges to grid operators like rapid demand fluctuations and increased voltage sensitivity.
The amount of power or electricity consumed by a device or system at a given time. It’s the demand placed on an energy source, like a power grid or a battery, by the connected electrical equipment.
The increase in the demand for electricity over time. It signifies the rising need for power from various sectors, including residential, commercial, and industrial, and can be driven by factors like population increases, economic development, and the adoption of new technologies like electric vehicles and data centers.
A controlled process where a utility company reduces or shuts off power supply to certain areas or customers to balance demand with available supply, preventing a complete system failure. It’s a last-resort measure to maintain grid stability when demand exceeds supply or when there are issues with power generation or transmission.
A way for wholesale electric energy prices to reflect the value of electric energy at different locations, accounting for the patterns of load, generation, and the physical limits of the transmission system.
Analysis is typically performed on a system to determine the amount of capacity that needs to be installed to meet the desired reliability target, commonly expressed as an expected value, or LOLE of 0.1 days/year.
The brief periods when electricity consumption is at its highest, often driven by factors like extreme weather or heat events. This is the highest amount of electricity demand for which a grid operator needs to plan.
A power plant that is designed to quickly ramp up and provide electricity during periods of high energy demand, such as during hot summer afternoons or cold winter evenings, to meet the increased needs of households and businesses. These plants generally only run during these peak events to supplement regular power generation.
A regulatory tool that ties a portion of utilities’ earnings to the utilities’ performance on desired regulatory outcomes, offering utilities opportunities to create the programs and services needed to advance emerging priorities.
The conversion of light into electricity at the junction of two substances exposed to light. A photovoltaic system employs solar modules, each comprising a number of solar cells, which generate electrical power.
