Former PJM Chair
Ake Almgren is formerly Board Chair at PJM.
All eyes are on transmission, now that the realization of needing to get the new clean sources of energy to often far-away locations, is clearly in focus. But cost and siting issues are prohibitive.
An often overlooked solution, according to an expert on all matters transmission, Ake Almgren, and one of the best options, is reconductoring with advanced conductors. It has been done before, in the U.S. and overseas, so the technology is proven.
PUF discussed the how and why of reconductoring, in simple terms for all to understand, as this solution, according to former PJM Board Chair Ake Almgren, is sure to take hold eventually. Pay close attention to this technology as he tells you all about what is coming.
PUF's Steve Mitnick: Discuss the highlights of what you see as the most important work you've done at ABB, Capstone, and PJM.
Ake Almgren: I'll start with ABB. For twenty-five years I was at ABB, mostly in transmission and distribution. A particularly exciting time was as president of ABB Power Systems, which included HVDC. We got the first projects in India. At peak, we had eleven projects at the same time.
Here's an interesting point. By the mid '90s, we started seeing in ABB that it was getting difficult in most parts of the world to build transmission, and we had a number of brainstorming sessions to figure out new approaches.