GEN 00001 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Is this RFP process part of an annual RFP process for DEI or is the current RFP a “one off” to satisfy requirements for MISO planning years 2023/24 to 2027/28?
Answer: This process is a standalone RFP designed to secure energy and capacity in support of needs identified in the DEI 2021 IRP.
GEN 00002 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Will red-lines to the NDA be accepted?
Answer: Duke is willing to review and consider minor edits to the NDA on a case-by-case basis.
GEN 00003 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Does the transmission interconnect have to be on a line that is owned by Duke, or can it be on a line that is in the subject service area, such as a Centerpoint line?
Answer: There is no requirement that projects be in DEI’s system. Projects other than wind must be located in MISO LRZ6. Projects must also be transmission level projects. Projects can interconnect anywhere on the MISO transmission system within LRZ6.
GEN 00004 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Are there any affiliate restrictions associated with this RFP? For example, in Duke Energy Carolinas, there are restrictions on project ownership %’s and caps on affiliate offer sizes.
Answer: There are no affiliate-specific restrictions that apply to affiliate bids or self builds. DEI and affiliates of DEI can submit projects into the process so long as the projects meet the basic requirements for participation. All bids including self builds and affiliate bids will be evaluated using the same evaluation criteria being applied to all projects submitted into the RFP. DEI and affiliates will be afforded no special advantages or special restrictions in the process.
GEN 00005 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Is Duke looking to self-build assets instead/in addition to this RFP? If submissions are not favorable would they look to self-build and not accept bids?
Answer: Duke is considering self-build options and those projects will be evaluated as part of the RFP process using the same evaluation criterial that applies to all process bids.
GEN 00006 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Will you give preference to projects that have more advanced MISO queue positions and thus have less uncertainty on their MISO and Affected System upgrade costs? For example, 2019 DPP queues will be past Phase 2 while 2020 will (maybe?) be past Phase 1. Would these proposal be weighted equally or would the DPP 2020 project be penalized for uncertainty of upgrade costs?
Answer: Projects will be evaluated consistent with the evaluation criteria posted to the Information Website. The Development Risk scoring category outlines how points will be awarded for projects based on their development stage.
GEN 00007 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Is there a target %, minimum, or maximum capacity of the total non-intermittent supply that DEI would like to be met by BESS projects? Could that number be as low as 0% or as high as 100% of the ~1200 MW total?
Answer: There is no technology-specific target or carve out within the intermittent or non-intermittent RFPs. The RFP documents include tentative targets for each broad category. However, as noted in the solicitation documents, DEI reserves the right to deviate from those targets based on the bids received. DEI may contract with greater or fewer MW for each category than what is identified in Table 1 of the Solicitation documents.
GEN 00008 Published On: 03/01/2022
Question: Is Duke Energy Indiana interested in the possibility of purchasing the energy storage system directly to avoid mark up costs by the developers/EPCs?
Answer: Through this RFP DEI is soliciting bids for turnkey projects or similar. DEI is not soliciting options to purchase equipment to supply to developers for use in DEI projects.
GEN 00009 Published On: 03/03/2022
Question: For a solar facility paired with storage, can you submit the solar + storage as an intermittent resource and then the storage as standalone as a non-intermittent resource?
Answer: DEI would encourage bidders to submit all bids and options. For the specific scenario described, CRA would requesst that the bidders identify if bid submissions are mutually exclusive or not.
GEN 00010 Published On: 03/03/2022
Question: Is nuclear considered for a resource for the non-intermittent RFP?
Answer: DEI would consider all options that meet the state resource location requirement for the RFP. Since it is an all-source RFP, DEI will consider a wide range of resources options however, bids for standalone coal assets will not be accepted.
GEN 00011 Published On: 03/03/2022
Question: The non-intermittent RFP mentions hydrogen burning capabilities and is that something that needs to be in place now or a potential component in the future?
Answer: DEI is open to hydrogen bids but bids should be far enough in planning and development to be transaction ready projects. This means bidders need to have specific details about the project's development and the anticipated costs. Bids would need this level of detail to be evaluated against more traditional resources.
GEN 00014 Published On: 03/08/2022
Question: For development projects is there a preference for selling projects that are at some stage of development or at NTP or at COD?
Answer: We contemplate that we’d acquire projects at one of two points, depending on the bid structure chosen. Under an APA approach, we would acquire the project upon completion of specified conditions precedent related to the development of the project, effectively to get the project ready to start construction (NTP, as referenced in the question). Under at BTA approach, we would acquire the project when the facility is mechanically complete (as defined under the agreement), but has not been energized or placed in service.
GEN 00015 Published On: 03/10/2022
Question: As MISO study results are still pending for some Study Groups, will participants have the opportunity to adjust the submitted price based on the outcome of the study (network upgrade costs)?
Answer: Bidders are expected to submit a firm price for their projects. If a project receives MISO study result information that materially impacts the project cost, DEI will consider changes in network upgrade costs on a case by case basis.
GEN 00016 Published On: 03/11/2022
Question: Would Duke Energy Indiana consider solar projects that are not at 100% NRIS?
Answer: DEI’s RFP is intended to solicit bids to meet its future capacity needs which is dependent upon NRIS qualification. While NRIS interconnected capacity is essential to meet those needs, ERIS interconnected capacity located in the DEI balancing area could meet those needs as well. Therefore, DEI is accepting bids for NRIS and ERIS interconnected resources and combinations thereof . The intermittent and non-intermittent solicitation documents requests that each "Respondent shall also detail its MISO generator interconnection queue position, if any, and the types and amounts of transmission service requested (e.g. 50 MW of NRIS and/or 25 MW of Energy Resource Interconnection Service (“ERIS”))." The value of NRIS, ERIS, or combinations and the resource’s location will be used in the evaluation process to determine the relative value of each proposal to DEI.
GEN 00017 Published On: 03/14/2022
Question: With respect to the LOI and term sheet in Appendix E, under what circumstances does DEI prefer to use A) APA, B) APA plus EPC, or C) BTA?
Answer: DEI is open to all proposal structures and does not have a stated preference for any particular construct. Bidders may also offer the same project under alternative acquisition frameworks. Please note that APA plus EPC may require additional analysis and review on the cost to completion from DEI.
GEN 00018 Published On: 03/14/2022
Question: Does DEI have a preference among the 3 options in Appendix E - A) APA, B) APA plus EPC, or C) BTA?
Answer: DEI is open to all proposal structures. Bidders may also offer the same project under alternative acquisition frameworks. Please note that APA plus EPC may require additional analysis and review on the cost to completion from DEI.
GEN 00019 Published On: 03/15/2022
Question: Is Duke planning to provide Attachment C - Fire Design Criteria to the Exhibit A-1-2B of the Storage Specifications folder?
Answer: Yes, BESS_EPC Exhibit A-1-2B - Attachment_C_Fire Safety Design Criteria.pdf has been added to the Storage Specifications files.
GEN 00020 Published On: 03/17/2022
Question: Does Duke have a preference of solar resource datasets used for generation production estimates for BTAs?
Answer: The Duke Energy Indiana (DEI) RFP does not require the use of a specific solar resource dataset (TMY - typical meterological year) to be used for generation production estimates, DEI would recommend the use of any major, acceptable datasets commonly used in the solar development industry consisting of a sufficient representative historical time period such as 20 years to provide the best estimate of future anticpated solar production.
GEN 00021 Published On: 03/18/2022
Question: Would a firm LD energy only product delivered to the listed locations be acceptable, or is capacity required to accompany the energy?
Answer: DEI's RFP is considering both intermittent and non-intermittent resources in support of the company’s capacity needs and is not considering energy only products.
GEN 00022 Published On: 03/24/2022
Question: Does a facility need only to qualify for capacity accreditation in its LRZ (Zone 7), and DEI wears the responsibility to designate the project as a DNR (Designated Network Resource) for LRZ 6?
Answer: Through this RFP DEI is seeking to secure LRZ6 capacity resources. Aside from wind resources, DEI will not accept MISO zonal risk associated with a resource.