Game Changing in Transmission
A webinar described the movement
The transmission business is changing, not only with the myriad of data that will be collected via the smart gird, but by the very nature of renewable energy, with the challenge of its intermittency and the requirement for economic dispatch of the resource.
These were the subjects of a recent EnergyBiz leadership Series webinar, "Game Changers: What you thought you knew about Transmission."
The changes impact the wholesale dispatch across the three transmission grids, as outlined by Phil Harris, CEO of Tres Amigas, the New Mexico project that is designed to do just that. It is also in a region with robust wind and solar resources.
"Beyond the equipment, we're putting in the ability to be our own balancing authority. With that adding all our online monitoring for every piece of equipment," he said. "Everything can be balanced and monitored in real time, like wind, solar and other projects, so that firm energy comes out of the product."
Robert Mitchell, CEO of Trans-Elect, described the benefits of the proposed Atlantic Wind Connection, which is being developed by a consortium that includes Google. The 250-mile-long backbone would be an undersea cable from New Jersey to Virginia that would enable the deployment of 6,000 megawatts of offshore wind.
"We're predicting that our line will be out 15 miles at sea, at least, with the further you go out to sea, the stronger the capacity factor, as the wind blows during the day when needed," he said.
Getting the wind at some point, at some time along a larger resource area is an advantage of the backbone concept, he said. There is also the benefit of relieving the congested, terrestrial transmission lines in the New York-Washington D.C. corridor.
"In some respects, the game changer of transmission is the change that leads to all other changes," said Marc Spitzer of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
As a sitting commissioner he couldn't discuss the pending projects, but he discussed how cost sharing challenges have thwarted development not only of lines, but generation resources as well.
"What we at FERC determined was necessary was a re-evaluation of the regulatory compact governing transmission," he said. "It was increasingly apparent that the failure to articulate a cost allocation methodology was stymieing in the planning process for transmission proposals."
Recent decisions at FERC have not been a "one size fits all" approach, he said.
And if costs aren't solved, the projects don't get built.
The editorial staff at RenewablesBiz.com is passionate about exchanging ideas and dedicated to promoting ongoing conversation about renewables and sustainable energy issues. We invite you to join and contribute to our online community. If you have an idea for an article or editorial contribution, please contact me via email, bopalka@energycentral.com, or phone, 860.633.0090.
"Continue the conversation! For more discussion on coal, nuclear and the future of renewable energy, join us at the 3rd Annual EnergyBiz Leadership Forum, the most influential gathering of power industry executives in the United States. Visit www.EnergyBizForum.com for more information."
