Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc. Overview May 18, 2015 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 111(d) Webinar Amy Fredregill Executive Director Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc. aq-rule2-20z
Webinar Outline Amy Fredregill, M-RETS Basics of REC Tracking Systems Background on M-RETS Engaging stakeholders on CPP needs Jennifer Martin, CRS, and Dave Farnsworth, RAP Avoided emissions RECs and CPP compliance Mass and rate-based approaches Q & A aq-rule2-20z 2
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1 MWh Renewable Energy = 1 Whole Certificate In M-RETS, a Whole Certificate is one where none of the renewable attributes have been separately sold, given, or otherwise transferred to another party by a deliberate act of the Certificate owner. Attributes are defined as any and all credits, benefits, emission reductions, offsets, and allowances directly attributable to the generation Environmental attributes are the nonenergy characteristics of a generator, including, for example, the direct emissions from the generator 4
Basics of REC Tracking Systems In last 20 years, 10 tracking systems were all created through state action (either individually or as consortium) Existing tool used in RE markets to ensure that RE is metered, tracked and accounted in robust, safe repository Designated to independently issue RECs for production of RE by MWh with unique id # s Use data supplied directly by transmission control areas, thereby assuring the data are accurate 5
Regional Footprint M-RETS primarily operates in the MISO footprint In response to stakeholder request, recently approved tracking of generation in AR, LA, KY, MO, MS, and TX M-RETS is regional, spreads costs over many users, resulting in efficient use of ratepayer dollars 6
Stakeholders Founded M-RETS Mission: M-RETS efficiently tracks and verifies renewable energy generation in collaboration with stakeholders, facilitating renewable energy development in the public interest Independent, quasigovernmental, non-profit Developed out of stakeholder process with regulators, RE advocates, generators & utilities similar to 111(d) stakeholder conversations 7
Issuance and Retirement of RECs 1. Generation 2. Registration with M-RETS 3. Digital Certificate or REC Issued 4. Determine Market for REC Asset Owner s Account 5. Retirement of REC-State Obligation or Marketing Claim LSEs and Other Account Holders* Traders* *Deals occur bilaterally, through brokers and bulletin boards 8
M-RETS Generation Fuel Sources Only tracking RE at this time Registration is voluntary Over 60 unique specifications of energy tracked Most common: Hydroelectric Wind Biomass Biogas Waste Heat Recovery PV 9
Meter Info and Data Reporting Data must be from control area settlements from a revenue quality meter Generator owners sign form allowing MISO to report their monthly production data to M-RETS 10
Data Sources and ISO Relationships 11
Highlights of 111 (d) Efforts To answer stakeholder questions, examining potential roles M-RETS could play in helping states measure, verify and track reductions in carbon intensity. Areas of exploration include: Tracking all power generation Carbon reporting Tracking energy efficiency 12
Policy Driven and Position Neutral M-RETS does not determine eligibility for state, federal or voluntary programs A generating unit is considered renewable if the energy generated is considered renewable by jurisdiction Services are tailored to each state s RPS compliance, all with their own definitions of eligible renewable energy M-RETS does not determine REC shelf life or geographic eligibility 13
Data Fields Can Be Added to Track Policies Account Holder ACME ACME ACME Sub Account StateX Renewable Energy Compliance StateX Renewable Energy Compliance StateX Renewable Energy Compliance Retirement Types RPS RPS RPS M-RETS ID M465 M763 M529 Generating Facility Milam - Milam Rolling Hills Wind Farm III - Rolling Hills Wind Farm III Buffalo Ridge I - Buffalo Ridge I Fuel Type Biomass Wind Wind Certificate Vintage Apr-11 Jan-13 Apr-09 Certificate Serial Numbers 465-IL-04-2011-14905-1 to 1531 763-IA-01-2013-25475-15426 to 16167 529-SD-04-2009-6309-1 to 1040 Quantity 1531 742 1040 IL Utility Yes Yes Yes IL ARES Yes Yes Yes IA No No No MN No No Yes MN CBED No No No ND No No No SD No No No WI RPS No No No Green-e Energy No Yes Yes Ecologo Certified No No No 14
Changes to Functionality Dynamic software leads to nimble registry - If policies are adopted or amended, work with stakeholders to determine if changes needed Work with Account Holders and regulators via Enhancement Committee to implement statutory or regulatory changes or to meet market needs Examples include: WI Displacement Facilities North Dakota Recycled Fuel Automation for IL ARES Import/transfer functionality released this June 16 types of biomass to accommodate exports to NC-RETS MNSES flag under development in 2015 15
111 (d) and Definition of Attributes REC Energy (Null Power) RPS Markets Voluntary Markets Power Markets (ISOs) RECs include environmental attributes (except NC) but how are they defined, determined, calculated and valued? -Carbon -Other avoided emissions -Other benefits 16
Verification and Validation Role M-RETS is a tracking system in an EM&V role, verifying RE meter data and providing reports, not a policy decision-making body Once policy decisions made by authorities, M-RETS can put rules in software or have manual checks and processes to help stakeholders report on compliance. We do this through: Operating Procedures Board of Directors Regulator Group Subscriber Group Other advisory groups 17
Next Steps Get involved with our stakeholder conversation Watch for contact from Kevin Porter with Exeter CRS and RAP serving on consultant team re: best practices and stakeholder input on 111(d) Fact sheets Options paper this fall October stakeholder meeting and 111(d) discussion 18
Speaker Introductions Jennifer Martin, Center for Resource Solutions David Farnsworth, Regulatory Assistance Project 19
Thanks and Contact Information Amy Fredregill Executive Director Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System amy@mrets.org 651-789-3338 20
Additional Background Information on FAQs
Primary Stakeholders State and provincial government renewable program administrators (regulators) Voluntary program administrators Renewable energy advocates Account Holders (fees paid for annual subscription and $0.005/REC to issue, $0.015/REC to retire) Electric providers (muni, co-op and IOU) Environmental Commodities/REC Brokers Independent Power Producers or other large generators Distributed generators and/or aggregators Qualified Reporting Entities (data reporting) 22
2014 M-RETS Stats 2014 Renewable Generator and Certification Profile 2014 REC Retirements 23
Generator Size or Type Variations There are no restrictions on the size of generators eligible to participate in a REC tracking system Fees for Generating Units: Micro-generator account ($50 annually, cut in half in 2014 and 2015) Small generator account ($125 annually, cut in half in 2014 and 2015) Project account ($500 annually) Third-party aggregators can handle REC tracking system registration and data inputs for multiple small renewables systems 24
How is M-RETS Data Tracked and Reported for Regulators? For maximum transparency for state regulators, M-RETS provides accounts where Regulators can: Review and manage project eligibilities Verify compliance retirements Review all RECs issued Compliance Report Verify REC Retirement Detail Review Summary of Retirements by Account Holder Certificate Look-up Report View & Sort All RECs Issued Track Current REC Ownership Program Eligibility Report Review Project Registration Edit Project Eligibility Generator Production Report View Generation Loaded for all projects 25
How Are Generators Registered? 26
How is M-RETS Data Tracked? 1. REC Issuance Unique Serial Number (helps prevent double counting) 27
Certificate Creation 28
How is M-RETS Data Tracked? 2. REC Issuance Eligibility and registration attributes tracked in database Ex.: of type of changes made for states when RPS changed 29
How is M-RETS Data Tracked? 3. REC Transactions RECs can be transferred to: Active Subaccounts Other M-RETS Account Holders Exported to tracking systems that permit Imports (MIRECS, NC-RETS & NAR) Retirement Subaccounts The Serial Number and all attributes (including State Eligibilities) are tracked in the database from Cradle to Grave Active Subaccount Other Account Holders Export REC Transfers Retirement Subaccount 30
Trading/Settlements 31
Public Reports Available at M-RETS.org 32