Maximizing Power System Capabilities in the U.S. to Meet Electricity Demand
Key Ideas
- Utilizing grid-enhancing technologies and energy parks can help accommodate growing electricity demand and minimize transmission upgrades.
- Recommendations include scaling up demand-side programs, creating energy parks, and standardizing load interconnection processes for efficient planning.
- Industry initiatives like Google's investment in energy parks and the development of projects like the Meitner Project in Texas showcase a shift towards sustainable energy solutions.
- Encouraging self-supply options for large customers, such as wheeling and sleeving, can enhance system-wide resource adequacy and reliability.
The Brattle Group report suggests leveraging existing power system capabilities in the U.S. to meet spiking electricity demand by utilizing grid-enhancing technologies and establishing large microgrids known as energy parks. These energy parks, where sizeable consumers are co-located with generation assets like wind and solar, can help avoid costly transmission upgrades. Recommendations include scaling up demand-side programs, creating energy parks, and standardizing load interconnection processes. Initiatives like Google's investment in energy parks and projects such as the Meitner Project in Texas highlight a move towards sustainable energy solutions. The report also emphasizes the importance of encouraging self-supply options for large customers, like wheeling and sleeving, to enhance system-wide resource adequacy and reliability. By incorporating customers' self-supplied generation into reliability operations and planning processes, utilities and RTOs can support the accelerated deployment of generation while maintaining resource adequacy.
Topics
Utilities
Renewable Energy
Data Centers
Grid Enhancements
Transmission Upgrades
Energy Parks
Demand-side Programs
System Planning
Reliability Operations
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