transmission
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T&D
Cable Delivery Begins for Massive German Transmission System Project
After more than two years of meticulous planning and preparation, on behalf of its client Prysmian, deugro has started the first cable drum deliveries for SuedOstLink. SuedOstLink is operated by the transmission system operator TenneT TSO GmbH. It is considered a central component of the energy transition and is primarily intended to bring electricity from […]
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T&D
Cable Deal Supports French Transmission System Upgrades and Expansion
NKT will deliver high-voltage power cable solutions to RTE to enable its long-term strategy to renew, adapt, and develop France’s electricity grid. As one of Europe’s largest exporters of electricity, the upgrade of France’s grid is essential for the power supply of the continent. RTE, France’s transmission system operator (TSO), has awarded NKT the extension […]
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T&D
$3B in Transmission Substation and Line Projects Proposed in Pacific Northwest
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has identified 13 new transmission substation and line projects designed to reinforce the Pacific Northwest’s electric grid. If constructed, these projects would accommodate regional load growth and enable the BPA to add thousands of megawatts of new wind and solar generation, and battery storage to the federal grid. Combined, the […]
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Legal & Regulatory
New FERC Has Golden Opportunity to Pass Interregional Transmission Planning Rule
Our electric system was designed to experience service interruptions once per decade. That time is long gone. In the past three years, the U.S. South has sustained two debilitating winter storms, forcing utilities to cut power when their customers needed it the most. In 2023 alone, the U.S. was hit with more than 28 separate […]
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T&D
$2.2B for 13 GW of New Transmission Capacity: DOE Unveils Latest Boost for U.S. Grid Modernization
The Biden administration will invest $2.2 billion in eight projects under its Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program to bolster the nation’s power grid with nearly 13 GW of new transmission capacity across 18 states. The funding, announced on Aug. 6, marks the second round under the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) GRIP program, a […]
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T&D
NYISO Announces Interconnection Enhancements and Improvements
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has launched a new interconnection process with significant improvements and enhancements, crucial for integrating a high volume of new generation facilities onto the grid. NYISO’s “Cluster Study” process and other improvements were developed in collaboration with stakeholders through the NYISO’s governance process in recent years. Collectively, these enhancements […]
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T&D
Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Award
Previous winners 2024: The Viking Link, connecting Bicker Fen substation in Lincolnshire, UK, with Revsing substation in southern Jutland, Denmark
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Legal & Regulatory
FERC Adopts Transmission Reform; Commissioner Cries Foul
There has been a growing consensus in recent years that the transmission planning process must be reformed to ensure reliability in the face of a rapidly changing grid. Despite the need for new transmission to
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T&D
Strengthening America’s Electric Power Grid: How the Government and Industry Are Improving T&D Systems
The U.S. transmission and distribution (T&D) network is reliable and well-maintained, but as renewable energy continues being added to the grid, and demand increases due to growing data center needs and the electrification of transportation and manufacturing processes, work is necessary to keep up with the changing times. The U.S. government understands the need for […]
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Trends
2024 Shaping Up to Be Dramatic for Transmission and Distribution
In a significant push toward modernizing America’s aging grid infrastructure, the Biden administration, in partnership with 21 states, has launched the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative. The measure marks the latest triumph for transmission and distribution (T&D), which has seen “lumpy” progress in recent decades. The initiative unveiled on May 28 essentially seeks to establish […]
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T&D
How Grid Enhancing Technologies Are Expanding Electric Power Transmission System Capabilities
It’s no secret that power grids around the world need to expand to accommodate more renewable energy and the so-called “electrification of everything.” The latter, of course, refers to the growing trend of using electricity to power various sectors and applications that have traditionally relied on fossil fuels, such as natural gas or petroleum-based products. […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Perfect Storm for the Grid: Convergence of Energy Growth and Policy
There are numerous articles and studies warning of the fragile nature of America’s electric grid. The vulnerabilities will only become more apparent as we continue to undergo a fundamental shift in how
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Legal & Regulatory
Action Needed Now to Support New Power Transmission Capacity
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in its March 2024 open meeting made clear that successful energy transition requires immediate action. With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as a benchmark, the U.S. will need to expand its electrical transmission capacity at an annual rate double that seen between 1978 and 2020, as reported by the […]
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Solar
Clean-Energy Companies Urge Congress to Pass Siting, Permitting, and Transmission Reform
Nearly 200 solar and storage companies sent a letter to congressional leaders on April 17 calling for legislation to improve permitting, project siting, transmission, and public lands access for solar and solar plus storage projects. Market forecasts show that a range of policy and economic outcomes will determine the volume of solar deployment over the […]
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T&D
ATXI Chosen to Develop Grid Reliability Project in Northern Missouri
Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corp., has been selected by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional transmission operator for large parts of the central U.S., to develop a $273 million transmission project across northern Missouri. “We are proud to have won this vital project that will […]
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Full Coverage
AI’s Paradox in the Power Sector—Unleashing Potential but Confronting Uncertainty
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the power sector, offering unprecedented opportunities for efficiency and innovation. But as AI applications proliferate, new challenges are emerging. How will industry navigate the potential and challenges that accompany this digital revolution? Recent efforts to overhaul the long-established energy system in alignment with decarbonization and decentralization have introduced new […]
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Commentary
How Automation Technology Is Essential to the Future of Efficient Energy Production, Use, and Storage
Many countries are promoting renewable energy sources, encouraging sustainable transportation, and adopting innovative technologies to achieve their energy efficiency goals, mitigate climate change, and contribute to a more sustainable future. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030, with […]
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Commentary
5 Ways to Ensure Grids Don’t Become Bottlenecks in the Energy Transition
Meeting ambitious climate targets while transitioning from fossil fuels remains a key priority for businesses, policymakers, and society in general. The good news is that the grid can play a pivotal role in helping us achieve this. With less dependency on more harmful energy sources such as oil and coal, and increased electrification, we are […]
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T&D
Enhancing the U.S. Electric Grid to Meet the Nation’s Growing Power Needs
The U.S. power grid is in need of an upgrade and the federal government knows it. Much of the electric grid was built in the 1960s and 1970s, according to a paper published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s
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T&D
New 225-kV Transmission Lines and Substations Provide Reliable Power Supply to Impoverished Regions of Cameroon
Spanning several regions of Cameroon where 55% of the population live in poverty, grid connectivity is limited and the power supply is unreliable. However, a new project, which will extend the country’s electricity network, may help. The project involves building two 225-kV single-circuit transmission lines and supporting substations. Upon completion, the new infrastructure will enhance […]
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History
National Grid’s Evolution: Branching Out from Deep Roots
Rooted in the birth of the UK’s energy industry, National Grid’s operations have traversed critical periods of the energy industry’s tumultuous history. While it is today one of the world’s largest
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Legal & Regulatory
Increased Demand Is Fueling Interconnection Process Changes
Electrical system operators are seeing an increase in potential projects seeking to connect to the power grid. Ideally, this growth in application activity means that energy systems and networks will become
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Legal & Regulatory
Three Key Transmission Links Get $1.3B Boost With Federal Capacity Contracts
Three interregional transmission lines connecting six U.S. states will receive the first $1.3 billion tranche of $2.5 billion in federal funding designated under the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP), a revolving fund enacted by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grid Deployment Office’s (GDO’s) first picks under the TFP, unveiled on […]
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Electrification
Vermont Group Offers Customers Energy Storage to Avoid Blackouts
A Vermont utility has filed a plan with state regulators that would enable the power company to offer more customers battery energy storage to keep the lights on during outages. Green Mountain Power (GMP), which has about 270,000 customers, said it wants to have its plan in place by 2030. GMP on Oct. 9 asked […]
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T&D
The Benefits of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer in Power Transmission
Wood, steel, and concrete are commonly used materials for power poles. However, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) offers a relatively lightweight, safe, and resilient alternative, which also offers a long service
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Full Coverage
SPP Set to Become First RTO Straddling Eastern and Western Interconnections
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is poised to become the first regional transmission organization (RTO) to provide coordinated operation across the Eastern and Western Interconnections, bridging a historic gap to potentially boost regional reliability, savings, and efficiencies. SPP, which has operated as an RTO since 2004, currently has 110 member companies in its Eastern Interconnection […]
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Energy Security
FERC, NERC Reveal Disturbing Details from Winter Storm Elliott Inquiry
Incremental unplanned generation outages triggered during Winter Storm Elliott spiked to 90.5 GW—significantly more than the 61.8 GW during Winter Storm Uri in 2021—representing 13% of the U.S. portion of anticipated resources in the Eastern Interconnection. That finding, one of many disturbing details unveiled by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and North American Electric […]
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Legal & Regulatory
FERC Adopts ‘Historic’ Reforms to Ease Nationwide Generation Interconnection Backlog
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved key transmission reforms aimed at clearing a staggering backlog of more than 10,000 generation and storage projects—more than 2,000 GW—stalled in interconnection queues across the country. Order 2023, a final rule unanimously adopted by FERC’s four commissioners at a July 27 open meeting and posted in full […]
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Commentary
Transmission for Transition: Solving the South African Energy Crisis Through Logistics
South Africa is in the midst of an energy crisis characterized by electricity shortages, blackouts, and lack of new infrastructure investment. Eskom, the state-owned utility supplying more than 90% of the nation’s electricity, has suffered from operational failures, maintenance issues, and breakdowns at aging, poorly maintained power stations, leading to steady declines in the energy […]
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T&D
HVDC’s Role in the Evolution of the Power Grid
The 19th century battle between Nikolai Tesla’s alternating current (AC) and Thomas Edison’s direct current (DC) technologies had an undisputed winner. The vast majority of the world’s transmission and distribution grids work now on AC. But DC—and high-voltage direct current (HVDC)—is attracting renewed interest. New Applications Emerge for HVDC The benefits of HVDC include its […]