ESIG with support from Elevate Energy Consulting, and in collaboration with Berkeley Lab and EPRI, is supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to facilitate the Forum for the Implementation of Reliability Standards for Transmission (FIRST) as part of the DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X).
To ensure the reliable and secure operation of energy resources connected to the electric grid, interconnection standards need to address inverter-based generator capabilities, expected performance, cybersecurity requirements, and other relevant issues. Some of these standards, such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-2800, have been developed, but still need to be widely adopted and implemented. Other standards, as well as procedures for assessing and verifying plant conformity with them, have yet to be developed.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) Forum for the Implementation of Reliability Standards for Transmission (FIRST) facilitates the adoption of new and recently updated standards relevant for interconnected energy resources. The Forum convenes industry stakeholders to enable easier and more harmonized implementation of these interconnection standards.
i2X FIRST addresses the solutions related to interconnection standards (4.2 to 4.9) identified in the DOE Transmission Interconnection Roadmap. i2X FIRST covers practices outlined in the draft of IEEE P2800.2 and best practices from early adopters of the IEEE 2800 standard. Additionally, ongoing North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standard revision efforts related to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 901 are discussed to ensure alignment with IEEE 2800 adoption. Feedback gained through i2X FIRST will help shape new standards development processes.
Upcoming Events
NEXT MEETING: December 16, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – IBR Plant Commissioning Best Practices I
REGISTER FOR DECEMBER 16 MEETING
REGISTER FOR SEASON 2 MEETINGS HERE
Season 2 Schedule
REGISTER FOR SEASON 2 MEETINGS HERE
In Season 2 of the i2x FIRST, we will focus on:
- Best practices of IEEE 2800 adoption
- conformity assessment with applicable interconnection standards, as per IEEE P2800.2
- NERC new standards development and implementation as per FERC Order 901
- Grid Forming IBR specifications and conformity assessment
May 27, 2025, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET – Season 2 Kick-Off
June 24, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – NERC Milestone 3 Update
July 22, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – IBR Plant Design Evaluation with Applicable Requirements I
August 26, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – IBR Plant Design Evaluation with Applicable Requirements II
September 23, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – IBR Plant Modeling Requirements and Best Practices
October 21, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – Challenges with IEEE2800-2022, Planned Revisions
November 25, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – Change of Management during IBR Plant Interconnection Process and Commissioning, How to Maintain Conformity
December 16, 2025, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – IBR Plant Commissioning Best Practices I
January 27, 2026, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET – IBR Plant Commissioning Best Practices II
February 24, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET – Grid Forming IBR Specifications and Testing Requirements I
March 16, 2026 hybrid event during ESIG Spring Workshop: Grid Forming IBR Specifications, Testing Requirements, Lessons Learned
Past Meeting Materials
i2X Season 2 Meeting Synopses
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | Change of Management during IBR Plant Interconnection Process and Commissioning, How to Maintain Conformity
This meeting focused on topics related to change of management during the IBR plant interconnection process and commissioning, and how to maintain conformity.
MEETING AGENDA
- Meeting Introduction: Julia Matevosyan, ESIG
- IBR Developer Perspective: Katie Iversen, AES
- OEM Perspective: Miguel Cova Acosta, Vestas
- EPC Perspective: Patrick Hart, Mortenson
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | IBR Plant Modeling Requirements and Best Practices
- Meeting Introduction: Julia Matevosyan, ESIG
- IBR Plant Modeling Requirements – NYISO Perspective: Bruno Leonardi, NYISO
- IBR Plant Modeling Requirements – Developer/Consultant Perspective: Kasun Samarasekera, Elevate Energy Consulting
- IBR Modeling: Where Do We Go From Here?: Andrew Isaacs and Lukas Unruh, Electranix
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | IBR Plant Design Evaluation with Applicable Requirements II
This meeting focused on topics related to IBR Plant Design Evaluation with Applicable Requirements.
MEETING AGENDA
- Meeting Introduction: Julia Matevosyan, ESIG
- IBR Plant Design Evaluation – ISO Perspective: Alan Urban, MISO
- IBR Plant Design Evaluation Leaning on Documentation Review: Jens Boemer, EPRI
- IBR Plant Design Evaluation – Utility Perspective: Anthony Williams, Duke Energy
- Putting IEEE P2800.2 Concepts to Action: IBR Performance and Modeling Requirements: Ryan Quint, Elevate Energy Consulting
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | IBR Plant Design Evaluation with Applicable Requirements I
This meeting focused on topics related to IBR Plant Design Evaluation with Applicable Requirements.
MEETING AGENDA
- Meeting Introduction: Julia Matevosyan, ESIG
- IEEE P2800.2, IBR Plant Design Evaluation – Overview: Jens Boemer, EPRI
- IBR Plant Design Evaluation – Developer Perspective: Rishi Maharaj, Engie
- IBR Plant Design Evaluation – EPC Perspective: Patrick Hart, Mortenson
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | IBR Modeling and NERC Milestone 3 Standards
This meeting focused on topics related to IBR Modeling and NERC Milestone 3 Standards (related to FERC Order 901).
MEETING AGENDA
- Meeting Introduction: Julia Matevosyan, ESIG
- NERC Progress Update on Milestone 3 Projects: Sandhya Madan, NERC
- Current State of IBR Modeling in North America: Miguel Cova Acosta, Vestas
- Legacy IBR Plant Modeling: Andrew Isaacs, Electranix
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 | i2x FIRST Season 2 Kick-Off Meeting
KICK-OFF MEETING AGENDA
- Introduction and important highlights from i2x FIRST Season 1: Julia Matevosyan, ESIG
- Adoption efforts/progress of IEEE2800 adoption: Jens Boemer, EPRI
- IEEE P2800.2 progress and plans: Andy Hoke, NREL
- NERC Milestone 2 updates and plans for Milestone 3 (related to FERC Order 901): Alex Shattuck, ESIG