Cross the Great Divide
The borders that separate the East, West, and Texas grids are no more than proverbial lines in the sand. Yet, because of the cost associated with synchronizing transmission to enable sharing, those borders may as well be as wide as the Grand Canyon.
A robust transmission backbone must cross the established East, West, and Texas grid boundaries to ensure renewable resources reach the areas of need. With much of our nation’s best wind resources located within the Eastern and Texas grids, we need an interstate transmission backbone designed to transverse these divides to connect our country’s vast energy resources to the high-demand areas.
Efficiency of DC technology
The greenest megawatts we have are the ones we have already made. But our existing transmission infrastructure needs to be improved to increase efficiencies and reduce system/line losses. In addition, an interstate transmission system should utilize more efficient high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology for transporting bulk power over long distances. With HVDC technology, an interstate transmission infrastructure can cross established grid boundaries, providing utilities with access to new sources of generating capacity without building a single power plant.
The Pacific DC Intertie is a solid example of how HVDC enables the sharing of loads during specific regions’ peak and off-peak seasons. The Pacific DC Intertie provides power to Los Angeles from the Pacific Northwest during Southern California’s hot summers. When electric demand decreases in Los Angeles and increases in the Northwest during the winter, power can be redirected from the south to provide additional capacity for northern customers.
Now imagine the possibilities of several HVDC transmission lines that can interconnect abundant renewable resources across boundaries with other high-capacity alternating current transmission networks. The ability to send electric energy across the nation can enable sharing of resources during peak and nonpeak times, reducing our need to build additional generating capacity.
Significant investment in our transmission infrastructure will bring to market our country’s vast renewable resources, as well as enable us to utilize more of the power that is already produced. In order for this to happen, all stakeholders need to start viewing transmission as the essential link to our country’s future energy assurance.
—Dean Oskvig is president and CEO of Black & Veatch’s global energy business.
Email
Comments
Print
Reuse
