IRP support and studies

To improve the analysis, planning and delivery of demand-side management resources (DSM), the Company completes a system wide study to identify the potential of demand-side management resources and their related costs over a 20 year horizon. The study is designed to assist with the planning and modeling efforts of our Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and as a result is generally updated every two to three years for relevancy. Links to the 2019 study and related documents are below.

2019 study documents

Volume 1 – Conservation Potential Assessment for 2019-2038 Executive Summary and Introduction

Volume 2 – Class 2 DSM Analysis 

Volume 3 – Class 1 and 3 DSM Analysis

Volume 4 – Class 2 DSM Analysis Appendices A-H

Volume 4 – Class 2 DSM Analysis Appendix I (55 MB)

Volume 5 – Class 1 and 3 DSM Analysis Appendices

Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company (BMcD) evaluated various renewable energy resources in support of the development of PacifiCorp’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan. The Renewable Resources Assessment is screening-level in nature and includes a comparison of technical capabilities, capital costs, and O&M costs that are representative of renewable energy and storage technologies. It is the understanding of BMcD that this will be used as preliminary information in support of PacifiCorp’s long-term power supply planning process. Any technologies of interest to PacifiCorp should be followed by additional detailed studies to further investigate each technology and its direct application within PacifiCorp’s long-term plans.

Renewable Resources Assessment for the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan – October 2018

The Gas-Fueled Supply-Side Resource Table Update was performed by Black & Veatch in support of PacifiCorp’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan. The intent of this study is to provide current market performance, stack emissions, capital cost, non-fuel operations and maintenance (O&M) cost, and unit operational characteristic estimates for various simple cycle (peaker) and combined cycle natural gas-fueled supply-side options. Black & Veatch has drawn on their extensive experience with natural gas-fueled power plant design and construction to provide PacifiCorp with reliable cost and performance estimates reflective of current market trends.

Gas-Fueled Supply-Side Resource Table Update for the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan – October 2018

Navigant Consulting, Inc. prepared this Private Generation Long-Term Resource Assessment on behalf of PacifiCorp. The study is an update to work Navigant performed to support the 2017 Integrated Resource Plan, incorporating updated information on technology cost, performance, incentives, and market conditions. The purpose of this study is to project the level of private generation resources PacifiCorp’s customers might install over the next twenty years under low, base, and high penetration scenarios.

Private Generation Long-Term Resource Assessment – August 2018

To improve the analysis, planning and delivery of demand-side management resources (DSM), the Company completes a systemwide study to identify the potential of demand-side management resources and their related costs over a 20 year horizon. The study is designed to assist with the planning and modeling efforts of our Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and as a result is generally updated every two to three years for relevancy. Links to the 2017 study and related documents are below.

2017 study documents

Volume 1 – Demand-Side Resource Potential Assessment for 2017-2036 Executive Summary

Volume 2 – Class 2 DSM Analysis

Volume 3 – Class 1 and 3 DSM Analysis

Volume 4 – Class 2 DSM Analysis Appendices A-G

Volume 4 – Class 2 DSM Analysis Appendix H (33 MB)

Volume 5 – Class 1 and 3 DSM Analysis Appendices

The 2017 IRP Flexible Reserve Study (“FRS”) estimates the regulation reserve required to maintain PacifiCorp’s system reliability and comply with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”) reliability standards as well as the incremental cost of this regulation reserve. The FRS also compares PacifiCorp’s overall operating reserve requirements, including both regulation reserve and contingency reserve, to its flexible resource supply over the IRP study period.

2017 IRP Flexible Reserve Study (2017 IRP, Volume II, Appendix F)

The Technical Review Committee (TRC) includes independent individuals who have some knowledge and expertise in wind integration studies, can bring insights gained in previous work, have an interest in seeing the studies conducted using the best available data and methods, and who will stay actively engaged throughout the process. Below is the TRC memo providing an assessment of the 2017 IRP FRS.

Technical Review Committee Memo on PacifiCorp’s 2017 IRP Flexible Reserve Study

The planning reserve margin (PRM), measured as a percentage of coincident system peak load, is a parameter used in resource planning to ensure there are adequate resources to meet forecasted load over time. PacifiCorp selects a PRM for use in its resource planning by studying the relationship between cost and reliability among ten different PRM levels, accounting for variability and uncertainty in load and generation resources. Costs include capital and run-rate fixed costs for new resources required to achieve ten different PRM levels, ranging from 11 percent to 20 percent, along with system production costs (fuel and non-fuel variable operating costs, contract costs, and market purchases). In analyzing reliability, PacifiCorp performed a stochastic loss of load study using the Planning and Risk production cost simulation model to calculate the reliability metrics for each PRM level.

Planning Reserve Margin Study – (2017 IRP, Appendix I)  

Navigant Consulting, Inc. prepared this Private Generation Long-Term Resource Assessment on behalf of PacifiCorp. The study is an update to work Navigant performed to support the 2015 Integrated Resource Plan, incorporating updated information on technology cost, performance, incentives, and market conditions. The purpose of this study is to project the level of private generation resources PacifiCorp’s customers might install over the next twenty years under low, base, and high penetration scenarios.

Private Generation Long-Term Resource Assessment – July 2016

Black and Veatch (B&V) prepared this Bulk Energy Storage Study for PacifiCorp’s 2017 Integrated Resource Plan. The study is an update to work HDR Navigant performed to support the 2015 Integrated Resource Plan, incorporating updated information on three pumped hydro energy storage projects and a compressed air energy storage project within PacifiCorp’s territory. The scope of this Energy Storage Study is update information on commercially available utility-scale energy storage technologies, and to define their applications, performance characteristics, and estimated capital and operating costs.  

Bulk Storage Study for the 2017 Integrated Resource Plan – August 2016

DNV-GL’s battery energy storage study provides PacifiCorp with a catalog of commercially available and emerging battery energy storage technologies with forecasts and estimates for both performance and costs. To further support PacifiCorp’s bi-annual IRP, DNV GL has produced probabilistic cost graphs for each of the proposed technologies, broken out by technology, energy conversion system, controls, and the remaining balance of system.  

Battery Energy Storage Study for the 2017 Integrated Resource Plan – August 2016