First 5 Years of GATS' Data Show Renewables More Than Doubled in PJM

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Identifying trends such as the exponential growth of wind, solar, hydro, captured methane and other renewable sources of generation within PJM has been possible due to PJM Environmental Information Services' (EIS) Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS). Launched five years ago, the GATS shows that wind generation has increased almost 1,300 percent since 2005 and solar, which produced less than 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2005, last year produced more than 81,000 MWh, a 3,000-percent increase.

The GATS, which tracks the attributes of all generation produced within or traded into the PJM region, creates a certificate for each megawatt-hour of electricity produced. By registering the certificates, the system defines the specific attributes of them, including fuel source and emissions data.

"Reliable and accurate data about specific attributes of the electricity we use is proving more valuable to not only those in our industry but also to state agencies, other industries and consumers," said Ken Schuyler, vice president of PJM EIS. "Since we launched five years ago, we've seen GATS data used for a variety of noteworthy studies, including studies on carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions."

Originally, GATS tracked certificates to meet the renewable portfolio standards for New Jersey and Maryland. Since then, electricity suppliers in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Illinois and Ohio have joined and are using GATS to demonstrate renewable portfolio standards compliance. In addition, the system tracks certificates for Green-E, a voluntary market product.

Because of the specific attribute data, GATS account holders can know which certificates will satisfy the specific requirements of their state renewable portfolio standards, since each state views standards differently. The system also tracks credits earned for Energy Efficiency for states like Pennsylvania who have begun including in them in standards.

Among the highlights of the first five years of GATS:

• GATS now has more than 4,000 subscribers and tracks the generation of more than 6,700 renewable generators located in 17 states and the District of Columbia.
• Earlier this year, PJM-EIS decreased the rate that electricity suppliers pay to use GATS by 25 percent, from $0.008/MWh to $0.006/MWh. Although annual subscription fees are small, they are waived for renewable generators with less than 10 megawatts (MW). GATS does not charge generator registration fees, certificate issuance or transfer fees, enabling residential solar owners to use GATS services for little to no cost.
• Fuel cells, such as the two facilities in New Jersey, are now tracked through GATS.
• An on-line Bulletin Board was created to enable buyers and sellers to connect and make requests for certificates.
• In 2009, 107,888,407 Emission-Free Energy Certificates were produced. EFEC's are derived from generating units that do not directly emit any air pollution, such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, hydro, nuclear, tidal energy and wave energy.
• The amount of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt-hour of generation has declined by 12 percent since 2005.

For more information about the GATS program go to http://www.pjm-eis.com, and for a snapshot of renewable generation information go to http://www.pjm.com/about-pjm/newsroom/renewable-dashboard/renewables-today.aspx.

PJM Environmental Information Services, Inc. (PJM EIS) owns and administers the Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS). PJM EIS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PJM Technologies, Inc. PJM EIS was formed to provide environmental and emissions attributes reporting and tracking services to its subscribers in support of renewable portfolio standards and other information disclosure requirements that may be implemented by government agencies. Visit PJM EIS at www.pjm-eis.com.

SOURCE PJM Environmental Information Services