3/20/2023 0 Comments Power grids in the us![]() Through their analysis, the team found that expanding the means for intercontinental transmission would allow more U.S. “Our multimodel approach allowed us to thoroughly evaluate the benefits and costs of the four transmission designs within each of the eight scenarios,” said study technical lead Novacheck. The team then applied each design to eight different scenarios featuring varied assumptions about transmission costs, renewable generation, wind and solar costs, gas prices, and power plant retirements. They developed four transmission designs: (1) one in which existing seam capacity was maintained, (2) one in which back-to-back converter stations were expanded, (3) one that added three new HVDC transmission segments, and (4) one that simulated a national-scale HVDC network. The study team conducted a transmission-planning analysis of the Western and Eastern Interconnections through 2038. The study did not explore connectivity with ERCOT. This study, funded by the Wind Energy Technologies Office and DOE’s Office of Electricity, evaluated the costs and benefits of strengthening the connections, or seams, between the western and eastern power grids using high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) technology and minimizing the capital and operational costs of both generation and transmission resources across the United States. NREL researchers Josh Novacheck, Greg Brinkman, Jessica Lau, and former NREL researcher Aaron Bloom teamed up with other Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories, Iowa State University, and industry to conduct the Interconnections Seam Study. Strengthening these interconnections, by adding new or increasing the transfer capacity of existing connections, could help balance energy loads and increase efficient development and use of the nation's abundant energy resources. However, just east of the Rocky Mountains along the “seam” between the Western Interconnection and Eastern Interconnection, a collection of back-to-back converter stations enables 1,320 megawatts of electricity to flow-which is small compared to the size of the two networks.Įxploring the costs and benefits of enhancing the connections between grids offers insights as to the effects of shared energy resources. ![]() ![]() These three grids operate almost independently of one another and share little power because of limited electricity transfer capacity. power system is divided into three major grids: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and the Texas interconnection (overseen by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT). ![]()
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