Mintz’s Post

Next week at Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America, please join Steven Jones, Toyah Barigye Callahan, and Larry Sherwood for a discussion on the safety issues related to energy storage systems (ESS) and solar photovoltaics (PV). This session will explore issues affecting clean energy systems in the International Codes, the National Electrical Code, and more. We will also address recent proposals developed by SEAC, a diverse forum for collaboration and problem solving related to PV, ESS, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. See you at #isnaesna!

REMINDER: Tune into today's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Transmission Planning Rule Breakdown PowerCast from 1–2 PM ET to hear from a panel of experts as they discuss what the recent FERC ruling is attempting to achieve, its implementation, significance, and potential issues. Register now: https://bit.ly/3wC4WEH

North America electric grid interconnections, showing the main interconnections: Western Interconnection, Eastern Interconnection, Texas Interconnection (ERCOT), and the Quebec Interconnection. Each interconnection is color-coded, and key cities, states/provinces, major power lines, and renewable energy sources are labeled.

Some very exciting and important work being undertaken in the USA. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is deeply involved in the project. “To supply power to homes and businesses, electric utilities and system operators work around the clock to balance supply of electricity with demand. The rapid addition of customer-owned solar and other distributed energy resources (DERs) requires changing distribution and transmission grid operations to maintain high quality power delivery that customers rely on. DERs change the flow of electricity on the grid while opening new opportunities to utilize grid edge resources to reduce power outages and accelerate recovery from power system disturbances. These developments underline the criticality of securing effective sensor technologies to gain greater visibility of this transforming grid. The power sector needs data integration using industry standards and open-source tools can make that data available, understandable, and actionable. Real operational improvement happens when data analytics are utilized to improve grid flexibility and reliability. To that end, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is leading two multi-year projects with Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) funded by DOE Office of Electricity (OE) Sensors and Data Analytics program. “ It is all about the data, real time data and feedback loops. This is not just “metering” - more importantly it’s monitoring - and happens right to the grid edge. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is undertaking a big body of work through multiple Rule Changes but the most important is the Energy Consumers Australia RTDA [Real Time Data Access] Rule Change Proposal. https://lnkd.in/gGeS-Dy5 It will facilitate whole of home functions using EIoT and provide data and feedback loops using broadband internet for essential digitalisation of the Distribution Network to drive both network productivity and Energy Cost Efficiency. It’s the Consumers’ Grid!

As more customer-owned solar & other distributed energy sources are added to the grid, changes to distribution & transmission grid operations are required to maintain high quality power. 💡 In our latest blog, OE's Director of Grid Controls Sandra Jenkins discusses how Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are leading the charge with two OE-funded multi-year projects that aim to improve emergency operations & power quality & stability: https://bit.ly/4bUVhYB

Roughly 2,600 GW of clean energy projects are stuck waiting in line to connect to the power grid, hurting electricity reliability and causing consumer costs to rise.     To cost-effectively meet America’s growing energy needs, the process of connecting new, large-scale clean energy projects to the transmission grid must be overhauled.    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s workshop this week was a welcome and important opportunity to shed light on opportunities to improve the interconnection process, and must be followed up with additional actions from decision-makers.    Learn about the interconnection reforms we’re proposing during this week’s #InterconnectionWeek: https://lnkd.in/egHEwZGe 

Connecting new power plants to the transmission grid in the U.S. takes too long. With rising electricity demand, power plant retirements, and frequent severe weather, adding new generation rapidly is crucial – yet we’re moving too slow. For example, Enel’s 2017 interconnection request for a North Dakota wind farm is still pending after seven years, with costly transmission upgrades required hundreds of miles away. This can change. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) can set criteria to speed up interconnection studies and cut unnecessary costs. Hear more insights from our Enel’s Aaron Vander Vorst, at FERC’s latest reform workshop: http://ms.spr.ly/6045mg6wV

Arevon Energy, Inc.’s Vice President of Transmission and Interconnection, Brindavani M., recently participated in the Alternative Technologies for Grid Planning and Operations panel discussion at the GridTECH Connect Forum in California. The panel focused on various grid-enhancing technologies including power flow controllers and topology optimization to help meet the increasing demands of electrification. Brinda shared her insights as to how various obstacles are hindering Generator Interconnection projects, including delays in the construction of transmission upgrades which involves siting, permitting, and large investments. She explained that if Transmission Operators adopt and implement grid-enhancing technologies, it can help improve grid reliability, lower the costs for customers and rate payers, and free up the queue of Generator Interconnection projects. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this informative conference. John Engel

In addition to the document that I just released in the post, here is a more in-depth document my associate Dr. Joseph Fournier wrote, outlining the challenges of battery technology backing up solar and wind power.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 1920, “Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation” to help address the rising concern that transmission planning and cost allocation processes are ineffective and will render the grid unable to keep up with projected increases in system demand. Read our latest alert for an in-depth analysis of the Transmission Rule’s key reforms, including its companion order Order No. 1977. https://bit.ly/3Kt37NF Thomas Millar | Gwendolyn Hicks | #FERC #energy