US solar needs to prepare for new ‘critical asset’ NERC rules

The solar industry is not as prepared as it needs to be to meet upcoming standards from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

Eric Whitley, founder of power system consultants GridSME, said US renewable energy developers are not paying enough attention to NERC’s Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards.

Intended to protect the grid from cyber terrorism, the latest iteration of these rules from NERC, a quasi-governmental institution overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), will come into effect on April 1, 2016.

“We see both wind and solar entities having a serious lack of knowledge, basic understanding and appreciation as to what is required under the NERC regulatory framework,” said Whitley.

“We’ve seen entities that haven’t even registered with NERC, and that’s a big deal. We have seen a great reluctance and almost an indignation that they are being pulled in because ‘they’re solar, they’re renewable, they’re different’.” For the full article click here 

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