Transmission

“At least in the early phases of a study, utilities must develop automated tools for qualifying and quantifying the upgrade requirements for interconnecting the cluster, though generation projects increasingly require specialized studies, such as electromagnetic transients.”

“We came across a neat wrinkle around the untapped potential of existing retired infrastructure, like a retired coal plant, which in many cases has transmission interconnection and substation infrastructure. There are about 180 or so that have adequate infrastructure for utilities to consider retrofitting.“

“Tech innovation is happening at a rapid pace, but it runs right into something that wants to change over decades. You see this even in the regulatory response to some of this.”

“With the right policy and market development framework in place, regulators have an opportunity to accelerate the deployment of VPPs, improve grid reliability, reduce rate pressure on consumers, and make progress on decarbonization.”

“There is a mismatch of need and timing. For those growing utilities, the demands are coming faster than new transmission can meet. Transmission is part of the answer – but what can be done in the interim of this lopsided world?”

“Our team at SCE was awarded the 2024 Nikola Tesla Top Innovator Award in Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Waveform Anomaly Recognition (AWARE) – a software platform that uses AI and machine learning to improve detection and location of faults on the grid.”

“AEIC’s Ops Center will provide the electric utility industry with authoritative information as a basis for decision making on local, state, and federal infrastructure investments. The Ops Center will facilitate projects that address important issues, including technology challenges, grid storage, electrification, and more. As projects are completed, the Ops Center will publish results.”

“EPRI is launching a multi-year initiative. Grid-Enhancing Technologies for a Smart Energy Transition or GET SET, is focused on expanding network capacity and maintaining grid reliability, while providing affordability, resilience, and energy security on the path to net zero.”

“If line losses on an existing line are 20 MW, installing an advanced conductor would reduce losses to approximately 10 MW for the same current, allowing 10 MW of plant construction to be permanently deferred.”

“Investing for more reliable, resilient power grids, using the most advanced tools and techniques, must now be considered standard operating procedure for power companies.”