Periodically, North America experiences severe cold weather events that result in unexpected operating constraints on facilities, including fuel resource limitations and both scheduled and unscheduled outages. The ERO Enterprise has increased its focus on reducing severe cold weather-related risks. As part of these efforts, MRO developed and implemented its Generator Winterization Program (GWP).
All forms of generation, regardless of location, are susceptible to the impacts of cold weather. While units in the northern portions of the MRO regional footprint may have been designed for sub-zero temperatures, there are still critical components that can be affected by climate. The units in the south were not always designed for exposure to colder temperatures, so processes and procedures need to be in place to minimize the impact of cold weather on performance.
The purpose of the GWP is to identify generator winterization best practices and areas for improvement that can be shared with stakeholders across MRO’s regional footprint.
MRO will send the GWP Survey to select entities each year to collect information on individual winterization plans for review. Outside of this review, all generating facilities are encouraged to download a copy of the survey to perform their own self-assessment of plans for winterization.
Submit questions regarding the Generator Winterization Program to [email protected].
MRO’s Regional Winter Assessment is an independent assessment of the 2020-2021 winter season. The assessment provides an evaluation of resource adequacy necessary to meet projected upcoming winter peak demands.
This paper identifies protection system schemes in the MRO Region associated with misoperations and how to reduce them