Interconnection and BESS development in ERCOT with Ramsey Ayass

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Jul 18, 2024

Ramsey Ayass, SVP of Grid Strategy at SMT Energy, discusses ERCOT's unique interconnection process for BESS, contrasting it with other ISOs. Key topics include site selection, grid conditions, challenges faced by developers, and potential business cases for BESS across US markets.

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INSIGHT

Developer Responsibility in ERCOT

ERCOT eliminates queue position and does not guarantee capacity.
Developers bear responsibility to predict and manage grid impacts for their projects.

INSIGHT

Network Upgrade Complexities Differ

Different US ISOs have complex, varied rules on network upgrades and how costs are allocated.
ERCOT currently lacks a network upgrade funding mechanism seen in other markets.

ADVICE

Clean Up Interconnection Queues

Clearing speculative projects from interconnection queues improves investment clarity.
Financial institutions get discouraged by oversaturated queues inflating perceived grid capacity.

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Ever wondered how energy storage projects go from concept to reality? What do developers consider when planning interconnections to the grid? ERCOT's unique approach to interconnections is a game changer for energy storage projects, allowing faster and more flexible grid connections. But how does this compare to other ISOs across America, and what factors are crucial when considering interconnections?

In this episode, Quentin is joined by Ramsey Ayass, Senior Vice President of Grid Strategy at SMT Energy, to discuss the intricacies of battery energy storage development in ERCOT and beyond.

Over the course of the conversation, they explore:

The process of securing grid interconnection for new storage projects in ERCOT.
ERCOT's approach to grid interconnection compared with other markets like CAISO, MISO, and SPP.
Key considerations when selecting a site and the importance of understanding grid conditions.
The opportunities and challenges developers face when building Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in ERCOT.
The potential business case for BESS across U.S. markets as demand increases.

About our guest

Founded in 2019 SMT Energy has grown to encompass over 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy projects. The company focuses on battery energy storage infrastructure in strategic high-value locations to generate resilient revenue in the fast-evolving clean energy landscape. For more information about SMT Energy, visit their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy provides benchmarking, forecasts, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place.

Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets. Modo’s paid plans serve more than 80% of battery storage owners and operators in Great Britain and ERCOT.

All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work.