Fast Frequency Response

Fast Frequency Response (FFR) is a fast-acting transmission reliability service that facilitates the arrest of, and recovery from, frequency decay caused by events such as the sudden loss of imports from the Alberta–B.C. Intertie and the Montana–Alberta Tie Line and/or internal generation. This service is currently provided through Load Shed Service for imports (LSSi), whereby load customers are under contract to be quickly taken offline following the sudden loss of imports coming across the interties. 

Prescribed Forms

• FFR Forced Outage Submission Form [Posted: June 28, 2021]
• Prescribed Form FFR Communication Confirmation [Posted: June 28, 2021]

FFR Service Through New Technologies  

The AESO conducted a Fast Frequency Response Pilot (FFR Pilot) to assess the capability of new technologies, including Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), to help arrest and stabilize under-frequency excursions to mitigate the impact of a sudden supply loss. The service terms began in Q1 2022 and concluded in Q1 2023.  

On June 26, 2023, the AESO published a report documenting the outcomes and lessons learned from the FFR Pilot, including insights into the performance of BESS and its potential as a reliable FFR resource. The Fast Frequency Response Pilot | Lessons Learned report presents an overview of the pilot program, including background information, facility details, testing results and key findings.  

Additional studies concerning the effects of incremental power injection within the distribution network, as mentioned in the Section 3.6 of the Lessons Learned report have been completed and can be found in the FFR Pilot Lessons Learned | Update, published on October 18, 2023. These studies were conducted to assess the potential impact of incremental power injection on voltage levels within the distribution network, which could lead to distributed energy resource trips while providing FFR.

Alternate FFR service options were investigated through the AESO’s Request for Information for Solutions to Mitigate the Instantaneous Impacts of Sudden Supply Loss (RFI) to determine potential alternative solutions over multiple implementation time horizons.  

The FFR Pilot and RFI are included in the AESO’s 2023 Reliability Requirements Roadmap—a comprehensive framework that contemplates the AESO’s broad range of initiatives to address the reliability challenges emerging, or expected to emerge, as the grid transforms.