ERCOT Temporarily Prohibits All Energy Storage Resources From Providing Non-Spin

ERCOT issued a market notice stating that, "ERCOT has determined that it must prohibit all ESRs [Energy Storage Resources] from providing Non-Spin until the system and procedure changes associated with the provision of Non-Spin under NPRR1096 are developed and implemented later this year."

"Consequently, effective Operating Day October 4, 2022, the qualification of ESRs to provide Non-Spin will be terminated," ERCOT said in the notice

ERCOT said in the notice that Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) 1096 requires Resources that provide ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS) to limit their responsibility to a quantity of capacity that is capable of being sustained for two consecutive hours and Resources that provide Non-Spinning Reserve Service (Non-Spin) to limit their responsibility to a quantity of capacity that is capable of being sustained for four consecutive hours.

ERCOT is in the process of implementing the Non-Spin- related NPRR1096 changes as part of the December 2022-R6 release, which is scheduled between December 6 and 8, 2022. Specifically, changes in Nodal Protocol Sections 2.1, 3.17.3, and 8.1.1.2 will be implemented as a part of the R6 release.

"ERCOT is concerned that, until these Non-Spin-related changes take effect, allowing Energy Storage Resources (ESRs) to carry Non-Spin could present a reliability risk because, if committed and deployed, they may lack the capability to provide the needed power output for a sufficient duration. Given ERCOT's duty to ensure system reliability under Texas Utilities Code § 39.151(a)(2) and 16 Texas Admin. Code § 25.361(b), ERCOT has determined that it must prohibit all ESRs from providing Non-Spin until the system and procedure changes associated with the provision of Non-Spin under NPRR1096 are developed and implemented later this year. Consequently, effective Operating Day October 4, 2022, the qualification of ESRs to provide Non-Spin will be terminated," ERCOT said in the notice

"To provide Non-Spin after NPRR1096 implementation, an ESR -- including any ESR currently qualified to provide Non-Spin -- will need to be qualified to provide Non-Spin under updated criteria based on NPRR1096's requirements," ERCOT said in the notice

Effective immediately, ERCOT is accepting requests from ESRs to qualify for Non-Spin per NPRR1096 criteria.