Grid Connection Guideline:

Guidelines For Connecting Agriculture-Based, Small-Scale Generators (< 500 KW) to the !dro "ne S!stem #nder the $ene%a&le 'nerg! Standard "((er )rogram ($'S"))
Prepared by:

In cooperation with

December 2007

AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

BACKGROU D
*he go+ernments o( "ntario and o( Canada ha+e each sti,ulated the need (or small-scale, distri&uted energ! generation as a means o( su,,orting the ,u&lic electricit! grid, ,romoting rene%a&le energ! ,ro-ects, and increasing energ! securit!. A)A'" su,,orts and ,romotes the de+elo,ment o( agriculture-&ased, rene%a&le energ! ,ro-ects. *he (ollo%ing document ser+es to ,ro+ide a ste,-&!-ste, guideline (or small-scale generators, s,eci(icall! agriculture-&ased, %ishing to connect to the !dro "ne /istri&ution S!stem (<50 01) *his guideline (ollo%s the technical re2uirements o( !dro "ne and the suggested timeline as e3,erienced &! the Agri'nerg! )roducers4 Association o( "ntario. *his guideline, the (igures, times, and acti+ities descri&ed herein, a,,l! to small-scale generators (5000W and under). *his guideline is &ased on the e3,eriences o( A)A'" and its mem&ers and is not necessaril! re,resentati+e o( all ,ro-ects. For more case-s,eci(ic 2uestions ,ertaining to connection to the !dro "ne distri&ution s!stem, ,lease contact !dro "ne directl!. *his guideline is s,eci(icall! geared to%ards those ,ro-ects considering the $ene%a&le 'nerg! Standard "((er )rogram ($'S")). When connecting under the $'S"), ,ro-ect o%ners are res,onsi&le to co+er the costs (or all e2ui,ment and installation (rom the generator to the ,u&lic grid. )lease note that this is not the same arrangement as connecting under the 5et-6etering ,rogram. #nder the 5et-6etering ,rogram, a generator is treated as a customer. #nder this arrangement, a generator can e((ecti+el! render their electricit! &ill nil (70). *he! cannot generate re+enue, onl! sa+ings. All e2ui,ment necessar! to connect a generator to the grid, as %ell as administrati+e and technical ser+ices, are ,aid (or and su,,lied &! the 8/C utilit! ( !dro "ne). !dro "ne reco+ers costs through the same 790:month connection (ee ,aid &! e+er! other consumer in "ntario. #nder the $'S") ,rogram, a generator is treated as a ,roducer. #nder this arrangement, a generator sells electricit! to the grid at a contracted ,rice, and &u!s &ac0 %hat the! need at mar0et ,rice. A generator can ,roduce net re+enue under the $'S"). All e2ui,ment necessar! to connect a generator to the grid is the res,onsi&ilit! o( the generator. !dro "ne reco+ers all costs in lum, sums (rom the generator. ;t should &e noted that the technical o,eration and im,act on the grid o( a distri&uted generator ma! &e identical, !et the! are treated and charged com,letel! di((erentl! de,ending on %hich ,rogram the! o,erate under ($'S") or 5et-6etering).

AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

CO !C"I G #$A%%&#CA%! G! !RA"OR# '(00 K) A D U D!R* "O +,DRO O ! #,#"!$ U D!R R!#OP
Belo% is a ta&le summari<ing the (undamental as,ects o( connecting small scale generators (500 0W and under) to the !dro "ne distri&ution s!stem under the $'S") ,rogram. 6ore detail is gi+en on each ste, in the su&se2uent section. *he ste,s, costs and timelines contained in this ta&le ma! not &e a,,lica&le to all ,ro-ects. AC"I-I", #"!P /A #"!P /B
;nitial Feasi&ilit! Assessment (;FA) (Form A) Connection ;m,act Assessment (C;A) (Form B)

CO#" O. +,DRO O ! )ORK

Free 012000 (*he C;A stud! identi(ies the re2uirements (or connecting to the !dro "ne s!stem to ensure that the connection does not ha+e a negati+e im,act on the !dro "ne s!stem and other customers) 032000 '"hi4 i4 the 5ee 5or +ydro One to prepare a co4t e4timate 5or the +ydro One connection wor6* 02000 & 0(000 !dro "ne must re+ie% the design to ensure that it has incor,orated the !dro "ne re2uirements and that the connection does not ha+e a negati+e im,act on the !dro "ne s!stem and other customers7 .ree *he generator ,ro,onent must e3ecute a Connection and Cost $eco+er! Agreement (CC$A) %ith !dro "ne. *his agreement is to ensure that !dro "ne (ull! reco+ers the cost o( it4s connection %or0. !dro "ne %ill not initiate it4s connection %or0 including the design until the CC$A is e3ecuted %ith the customer.

O"+!R CO#"#
5:A 012000&0(2000 ()re,aration o( su,,orting documents (or su&mission)

"I$!%I ! .OR +,DRO O ! )ORK

For ,ro-ects under 5000W, these three ste,s ma! &e com&ined into a one-ste, a,,lication ,rocess. As a result, shortened ,rocessing times are e3,ected. !dro "ne= >-? months $ealit!= ?-@months

#"!P /C

!dro "ne Fee (or )re,aring Connection Cost 'stimate

#"!P 2

'lectrical /esign, !dro "ne $e+ie% A 'lectrical Sa(et! Authorit! A,,ro+al

012000&072000

!dro "ne= B month $ealit!= B month

#"!P 1

Connection and Cost $eco+er! Agreement (CC$A) %ith !dro "ne.

!dro "ne= C %ee0s $ealit!= B month

AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

#"!P 3A

Source, )urchase A ;nstall !dro "ne Connection '2ui,ment

8ine Connection (7C0,000-7>0,000 *rans(er *ri, i( $e2uired (7BC5,000) 5ote= !dro "ne %ill %or0 %ith ,ro-ect ,ro,onents to e3,lore alternati+e schemes to *rans(er *ri,. $e+enue meter (7C,500-7>,000).

!dro "ne= B month $ealit!= C-5 months

#"!P 3B

Source, )urchase A ;nstall )ro,onent4s '2ui,ment

;nter(ace *rans(ormers (7B0,000-7B5,000). igh 1oltage Fused /isconnect S%itch (gang o,erated (or 9-,hase connection) (75,000-7B0,000). 6etering '2ui,ment (C*s A )*s, etc.) e3ce,t the meter *rans(er *ri, e2ui,ment i( re2uired at generator site 5ote= !dro "ne %ill %or0 %ith ,ro-ect ,ro,onents to e3,lore alternati+e schemes to *rans(er *ri,. 032000&0/02000 ("ther '2ui,ment) 032000&082000 (#ser4s install and ,ole:line %or0)

>-? months

#"!P (

/istri&ution Connection Agreement (/CA) %ith !dro "ne.

.ree *his is the agreement &et%een a ,ro-ect o%ner and !dro "ne sti,ulating the conditions o( connection and o,eration. *his is a one-time e+ent %hich must &e com,leted &e(ore !dro "ne connects the ,ro,osed (acilit!.

!dro "ne= B month

AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

#"!P 8

Connection, Commissioning A W"1'$

.ee: 0(0007 *his ste, in+ol+es the ,h!sical connection o( a generator to the !dro "ne s!stem., the commissioning o( the (acilit! and the !dro "ne W"1'$ acti+it!.

0/(00&01000 (;nterconnection $e,ort)

!dro "ne= C-9 %ee0s $ealit!= >-? %ee0s

#"!P 7

",erationD

*he ,ro,onent (acilit! is o,erated in line %ith the conditions o( o,eration in the /istri&ution Connection Agreement (/CA).

E *hese costs are directl! related to ,ro-ect si<e and can +ar! to a large degree, e+en outside the cost ,arameters identi(ied in the ta&le EE A trans(er tri, s!stem ma! &e re2uired either (or larger ,ro-ects in instances o( grid sensiti+it!. ;n most cases o( generation &elo% 5000W, an alternati+e rela! ,rotection scheme could &e ade2uate.

AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

#"!P /A: Initia9 .ea4ibi9ity A44e44ment 'I.A* *he ;FA is a (ree assessment ,ro+ided &! !dro "ne to e+aluate the initial technical (easi&ilit! o( connecting a ,ro-ect to the ,u&lic grid. *his includes the e+aluation o( station ca,acit!, (eeder ca,acit!, and need (or ma-or grid ,rotection modi(ications as a result o( the in(lo% o( electricit! (rom distri&uted generation. *o a,,l! (or an ;FA, ,ro-ect ,ro,onents must su&mit a com,leted Form A to !dro "ne. *he Form A can &e (ound at=
htt,=::%%%.h!droonenet%or0s.com:en:customers:generators:generationFconnections:distri&ution:de(ault.as,

*his ,rocess is o,tional, &ut recommended (or those seriousl! considering connecting their ,ro-ect to the !dro "ne distri&ution s!stem. ;( a ,ro-ect ,ro,onent is not seriousl! considering distri&uted generation, A)A'" does not recommend a,,l!ing (or an ;FA as it onl! slo%s the a,,lication ,rocess (or other ,ro-ects. #,on su&mission o( the ;FA a,,lication, ,ro-ect ,ro,onent. !dro "ne %ill do the stud! and ,ro+ide a re,ort to the

#"!P /B: Connection Impact A44e44ment 'CIA* *he C;A is a much more detailed assessment o( a ,ro-ect4s im,act on the !dro "ne s!stem. *he results include a detailed technical re,ort outlining ,ro-ect (easi&ilit!, technical s,eci(ications needed (or the ,ro-ect and the im,act the ,ro-ect %ould ha+e on the distri&ution. ;n essence, a C;A ser+es to con(irm in more detail the (indings o( the ;FA. ;n order to a,,l! (or a C;A, a ,ro-ect ,ro,onent must su&mit a Form B to !dro "ne, as %ell as a signed Stud! Agreement, Single 8ine /iagram (S8/) stam,ed &! a ,ro(essional engineer, /istri&ution ",erating 6a, sho%ing the connection ,oint (can &e ,ro+ided &! !dro "ne u,on re2uest), and )a!ment. #tep /C: Connection Co4t !4timate *he connection cost estimate is -ust as it soundsG an estimate (or the cost o( the !dro "ne %or0 as re2uired to connect a ,ro-ect to the !dro "ne distri&ution s!stem. *he (ee and timeline (or !dro "ne to ,re,are this cost estimate is as sho%n in the a&o+e ta&le. 5"*'= $ecent changes to the grid connection ,rocess allo%s (or ,ro-ects u, to 5000W to com&ine ste,s BA, BB, and BC into one ste,. *his should ,romise to shorten this as,ect o( the connection ,rocess #tep 2: !9ectrica9 De4i:n ; !9ectrica9 #a5ety A<thority Appro=a9 A ,ro-ect ,ro,onent %ill need to ha+e all electrical s!stems designed to meet all a,,lica&le technical re2uirements including those identi(ied in the !dro "ne C;A re,ort. *his ,rocess also includes recei+ing a,,ro+al (rom the 'lectrical Sa(et! Authorit! ('SA) to ensure electrical schematics meet all sa(et! re2uirements and !dro "ne re+ie%ing the design to ensure that the !dro "ne re2uirements are addressed and that the connection does not ha+e a negati+e im,act on the !dro "ne s!stem and other customers7. ;n most cases, a third ,art! electrical engineer %ould &e hired to com,lete the necessar! tas0s.
AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

Cost (or the design o( such an electrical s!stem and (or 'SA a,,ro+al is &et%een 79,000 and 7H,000. *his ste, can ta0e u,%ards o( B month, &ut can &e done at the same time as other ste,s and is t!,icall! not a source o( ,ro-ect dela!. #tep 1: Connection and Co4t Reco=ery A:reement 'CCRA* *his is the contractual agreement &et%een a ,ro-ect o%ner and !dro "ne sti,ulating the conditions o( grid connection and cost reco+er!. *his is a one-time e+ent, %hich must &e com,leted &e(ore !dro "ne starts their connection %or0 including the design and construction. /ela!s in e3ecuting this agreement ma! a((ect the grid connection timeline. *here is no cost associated %ith this ste,. #tep 3A: #o<rce2 P<rcha4e and In4ta99 +ydro One Connection !><ipment !dro "ne %ill source, ,urchase and install e2ui,ment needed (or the !dro "ne connection %or0 as estimated in Ste, 9. *he ,ro-ect ,ro,onent has cost res,onsi&ilit! (or the !dro "ne connection %or0 as ,er the CC$A (Ste, 5). *he e2ui,ment t!,icall! sourced, ,urchased and installed &! !dro "ne (and res,ecti+e installed costs in &rac0ets) include the (ollo%ing. ;t should &e noted that !dro "ne %ill onl! charge a generator the actual costs incurred, 8ine Connection *rans(er *ri, i( $e2uired or Alternati+e $ela! )rotection Scheme Source and )urchase $e+enue 6eter .

#tep 3B: #o<rce2 P<rcha4e and In4ta99 Proponent !><ipment When connecting under the $'S") it is the res,onsi&ilit! o( the ,ro-ect ,ro,onents to source, ,urchase and install all e2ui,ment needed %ithin their ,lant u, to the inter(ace ,oint %ith !dro "ne (normall! the igh 1oltage (used /isconnect on the last ,ole on the customer ,ro,ert! immediatel! &e(ore the connection ,oint to the !dro "ne s!stem). *he e2ui,ment t!,icall! sourced, ,urchased and installed &! the ,ro-ect ,ro,onent (and res,ecti+e installed costs in &rac0ets) include the (ollo%ing. *he sourcing and ordering o( this e2ui,ment can ta0e &et%een C and 5 months to com,lete. ;nter(ace *rans(ormers igh 1oltage Fused /isconnect S%itch (gang o,erated (or 9-,hase connection) (75,0007B0,000). 6etering '2ui,ment (C*s A )*s, etc.) e3ce,t the meter (>-2uadrant inter+al meter) %hich %ill &e sourced and ,urchased &! !dro "ne at the ,ro-ect ,ro,onent4s cost. All ,ole and line %or0 as re2uired %ithin the ,ro-ect ,ro,onent4s (acilities *rans(er *ri, e2ui,ment i( re2uired at generator site

Note: Hydro One will work with project proponents to explore alternative schemes to Transfer Trip.
AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"

All metering e2ui,ment %ill &e o%ned, o,erated and maintained &! !dro "ne and as such, must &e to !dro "ne4s standards and s,eci(ications. Such s,eci(ications and standards must &e included in the detail design. #tep (: Di4trib<tion Connection A:reement 'DCA* *his is the agreement &et%een a ,ro-ect o%ner and !dro "ne sti,ulating the conditions o( grid connection and o,eration. *his is a one-time e+ent %hich must &e com,leted &e(ore !dro "ne connects the ,ro,osed (acilit!. #tep 8: Connection2 Commi44ionin: ; )O-!R *his ste, in+ol+es the ,h!sical connection o( a generator to the commissioning o( the (acilit! and the !dro "ne W"1'$ acti+it!. #tep 7: Operation? *he ,ro,onent (acilit! is o,erated in line %ith the conditions o( o,eration in the /istri&ution Connection Agreement (/CA). ;( !ou ha+e an! (urther 2uestions relating to the grid connection ,rocess, ,lease (eel (ree to contact A)A" or !dro "ne. A)A" B0H-B9I0 )rince o( Wales /r. "tta%a, "5 KCC 95? *= ?B9 CC> @90@ F= ?B9 CC> B?>C in(oJa,ao.ca %%%.a,ao.ca !dro "ne 5et%or0s >@9 Ba! St *oronto, "5 65G C)5 *= B @@@ ??> I9H? F= I05 I>> 9C5B customercommunicationsJh!droonenet%or0s.com %%%.h!droonenet%or0s.com !dro "ne4s %e&site (or generators= !dro "ne s!stem, the

Additional grid connection in(ormation can &e (ound at

htt,=::%%%.h!droonenet%or0s.com:en:customers:generators

AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario Association Des Producteurs dAgrinergie De lOntario 1390 Promenade Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 107 Ottawa, ON K2 3N! "N"D"