Creating Procurement RFPs for Renewable and All-source Power Resources

August 14-15, 2023 | Online :: Central Time

0823-power-purchasing

Resource procurement today is facing an unprecedented wave of challenges which has introduced additional risk factors and process issues that are not accommodated under typical utility (and corporate) resource procurement practices.

This course will cover current issues in the renewables, storage, and project development space and the challenges they are presenting to the buy-side.  Participants in this course will be made aware of the current industry issues and where there are gaps in the process that either need to be accepted, accommodated, or, in some cases, ignored for expediency since there may not be an acceptable solution.  This course is for both utility and corporate buyers, as well as for project developers who seek to understand how they should engage in competitive procurement opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe typical renewable and all-source procurement RFP processes
• Review options to address the current environment, including changes in procurement design and protocols
• Identify terms and conditions
• Discuss project evaluation criteria
• Review project short-listing elements for negotiation

Monday, August 14, 2023 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 9:20 a.m. :: Overview & Introductions

9:20 – 10:45 a.m. :: Background

• The history of power procurement design – what has worked in the past, and why it might not work in the future
• Current challenges in the market
• Other market updates and context

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: Scoping an RFP – What Are You Buying?

• Procurement target derivation
  • Utility processes
  • Industrials/corporates
• Eligibility requirements and tradeoffs
  • How high should the eligibility bar be raised?
• Transmission vs. distribution connected resources
• Interconnection status – where to draw the line
• Resource Technologies
  • All-Source or Some-Source?
• Geographic scope
  • Here, there, anywhere?
  • Implications for utilities and corporates
• Products and choices
  • Energy
  • Capacity
  • RECs
  • Ancillary Services
  • Do you need them all?
• Contract Types and Tenor
• Buy vs. Rent – is ownership a consideration?

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:45 p.m. :: Accommodating Developer’s Challenges

Discussion on challenges in the current environment, which include:

• Pricing matters – can it be held firm?
• Deal structures – flip or own, any preference?
• Supply chain – has it eased up?
• Labor issues – are constraints a schedule concern?
• The IRA – is it helping, or hurting?
• Financing – given market challenges, has it been impacted?
• What would you want to see changed in the way utilities and corporates procure that would help get more projects across the finish line?

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. :: Power Procurement Design – Structuring the Competition

• Structuring an RFP – an overview of formats and options
• Pros and cons of different RFP formats in light of current market conditions
• Review of where auctions can help (and when they might not)

4:30 p.m. :: Course Adjourns for Day

 

Tuesday, August 15, 2023 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. :: Evaluation Process

• Economic assessment – overall options to estimating the relative economics of resources
• Theory and approaches
  • Comparing ownership options to third Party PPAs
  • Modelling specific resources:
    • Wind
    • Solar
    • Storage
    • Hybrid resources
    • Thermal resources
    • Demand response (DR) and behind-the-meter (BTM) resources
  • Considerations to ensure that resources are modelled as consistently as possible
• Non-price/qualitative assessment
  • Typical criteria
  • Overall theory
• Evaluation phase and short-listing approaches
• Weighting considerations between economic and non-price criteria

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: Power Procurement Logistics – Putting It Together

• General timelines
• RFP package contents
• Distribution list development and market survey
• RFP information management
• Bidders’ conference
• Q&A
• Communications and protocols
• Evaluation process plan and criteria
• Final selection procedures
• Contract negotiations and execution

12:15 p.m. :: Course Adjournment

Dean Koujak is Principal of CRA International, providing energy market and procurement advisory services to utilities, developers, investors, and other stakeholders in the electric power industry.  Prior to joining CRA, he was a director in the Energy Practice of Navigant, which was later acquired and rebranded as Guidehouse, Inc.  While at the firm, he served as a consultant to utilities and other stakeholders in the industry advising on procurement, large-scale renewable development, renewable portfolio standards compliance, utility business strategy, decarbonization pathways, transmission infrastructure planning, grid modernization, non-wires solutions, power markets matters (NYISO/PJM/ISO-NE/MISO), energy efficiency program implementation, utility contract negotiations, electric resource planning, regulatory compliance strategy, M&A, and industry litigation.  Mr. Koujak is highly qualified in independent procurement oversight and implementation and has served in a variety of capacities in this regard including as an independent evaluator, administrator, independent monitor, and independent observer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering management for New York Institute of Technology, an MBA from Stony Brook University and his law degree from Hofstra University.

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Robert Lee is a Vice President in CRA’s competitive auctions and bidding practice. He specializes in designing and executing structured sales and procurement channels for clients in a broad array of industries and markets. In these engagements, Mr. Lee has worked closely with his clients’ senior management to define market rules tailored to meet their business objectives, while recognizing the unique constraints of the individual industries. He has worked with utilities across the U.S. to design and execute procurement processes for energy and capacity and standard service offer supply in multiple PJM states.  He has led modeling teams for clients at Allegheny Power Systems, Dayton Power and Light Company, and Cinergy in support of their transition from vertically integrated utilities operating under cost of service regulation to utilities operating in markets with retail choice.  Prior to joining CRA, Mr. Lee served in senior staff positions at the PA Consulting Group and at Putnam, Hayes and Bartlett, Inc.

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Dr. Margarita Patria is a Principal at CRA International and Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University. Her work has focused on the intersection of energy economics, market design, and data analytics. Dr. Patria provides market design and analysis solutions to utilities, regulators, and other electricity market stakeholders.  She is currently leading successful energy auctions and renewable procurements in multiple states and is responsible for electricity market analysis, bid valuation, and forecast tasks. She advised bidders in multiple high-stakes auctions.  Her research focuses on empirical and theoretical analysis of energy markets and applied game theory.  Dr. Patria received her Ph.D. in Economics from Boston College. She is currently teaching a course in the Economics of Energy Markets at Northeastern University. She is the author of several academic papers.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Creating Procurement RFPs for Renewable and All-source Power Resources

August 14-15, 2023 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before July 14, 2023 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this event

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program 

Participants must log in each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit. 

Instructional Methods 

Case studies, PowerPoint presentations and group discussion will be used.  

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 11.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

In utilities and other power systems procuring renewable energy resources:

• Procurement staff
• Contract administration staff
• Renewable energy planning staff
• Integrated resource planning staff
• (Resource) origination staff
• Project management staff
• Compliance staff

In the power project development sector providing renewable energy resources:

• Business development
• Project management