PGE plans to join forces with Grid United and ALLETE in the development of the North Plains Connector – a groundbreaking 3,000 megawatt high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line. This 415-mile transmission line will more than double the transfer capacity between the eastern and western U.S. electric grids, providing PGE with access to new, diverse energy resources and bolstering reliability for our customers. Key Highlights: - Increased transfer capacity of 600 megawatts for PGE - Access to renewable energy over a wider geographic area - Significant economic and environmental benefits - $3.2 billion investment in Montana and North Dakota Learn more: https://lnkd.in/guPhPmry #RenewableEnergy #SustainableFuture #EnergyInnovation #PGE
"Will double the transfer capacity between the western and eastern interconnections" - now that's saying something!
Very interesting development. Do you envision eventually upgrading the existing lines from Colstrip to the BPA transmission grid to DC? If so this could become a real backbone for a future US power grid, providing Midwest wind to areas with higher load. If not, it could be a modest source of employment in Colstrip to maintain power conversion equipment, and provide opportunities for the skilled workforce that must adapt to a retiring legacy asset. In either case it is good to see investment like this in HVDC.
For 3000MW HVDC Transmission scheme, what HVDC technology will you implement: HVDC classic (Thyristor Based Converter) or HVDC Voltage Sourced Converter based. Most likely HVDC classic because of the magnitude of MW and the transmission distance. Also, what is the voltage of the DC link section of the HVDC transmission scheme? What HVDC topology do you plan on implementing? Symmetric Monopole or Bipole? Any plan for future Multiterminal DC(MTDC), what protection scheme do you plan to use. Yes, of course for the symmetric monopole configuration you can get away utilizing the AC side circuit breaker to trip for DC side faults but that fault clearing strategy will not be feasible if you evolve to MTDC where selectivity comes into play and the need to use Hybrid DC circuit Breakers on the DC link to achieve a much faster fault clearing time to meet the protection requirement of MTDC HVDC. Hopefully, by that time a DC Protective relay might have been realized and commercialized.
Maria Pope and the PGE system planning friends, while I applaud the thought process and planning. I'd advocate for you to also plan in parallel how to gain the 3000 MW from inside your current service territory, using and incentivizing your customers to procure the tech you can utilize to provide grid services you need. My firm is here to assist you in learning how to achieve this strategy. Happy to connect, StephenMacDonald@EnergyProfitLLC.com.
Great to hear about the realization of this 3000MW HVDC interconnector to harness the numerous benefits, advantages and attributes of HVDC and much more to integrate vast amount of renewable energy over a wider geographic area to the HVDC transmission network
Ken Nichols
4mo
As long as ratepayers are not paying for this. I think what PGE customers really need is a more reliable distribution system that includes more onsite generation and storage.
Paul F Arnold
4mo
Has anyone penciled out the economics? What is the delivered cost of energy including transmission costs?
Stephan Grenier
4mo
That’s amazing!! 🇺🇸 ⚡️
Exciting update!
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4moNorth Dakota is currently 55% coal generating. What "renewable energy"?..we don't get to pick high-plains windmills-only! Force them to shutter the coal completely in three years or don't spend a dime.