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Most of the time, anyway.
According to the Department of Energy, today’s electricity system is 99.97percent reliable, yet still allows for power outages and interruptions that cost Americans at least $150 billion each year — about $500 for every man, woman and child.
For many, the wake-up call that signaled all is not right with our electric power transmission grid came in August of 2003 when the Northeast blackout left some 50 million people without electricity and crippled business and industry. That a high-voltage power line in Ohio brushing against an overgrown tree could lead to the most massive blackout in North American history finally focused some overdue attention on the reliability of our electric grid.
Not that we shouldn’t have seen this coming.
Harbor Research estimated back in 2005 that 60% of North America’s electric power transmission infrastructure would require replacement by 2020. A 2008 report by The Brattle Group predicted that the U.S. electric power industry would need to invest $298 billion in the transmission system between 2010 and 2030. Two years later a subsequent report by The Brattle Group put the price tag to meet mandates for integrating more renewable energy into the existing electric grid at $50 to $100 billion. In May of 2011, WIRES released an analysis showing that annual investment in new electric transmission facilities could soon reach $12-$16 billion in the U.S, resulting in $30-$40 billion in annual economic activity, supporting 150,000-200,000 new full-time jobs in the U.S. in each of the next 20 years. So the WIRES report suggests some progress, but what about the big fix? How are we going to turn our frail and neglected electric power transmission system into a secure and reliable smart grid? Who’s going to make it happen? How are we going to pay for it? What new technologies are available?
Below we’ve highlighted some of the best analysis, most-promising trends and smartest research relating to electric power transmission. We also invite you to return often to our T&D Channel to read about the latest developments or use our archives for research.
Electric power transmission – money and policy issues
· SGN recommended transmission research reports
· Transmission investment: Good for the economy, good for smart grid?
· New electricity bill could slow transmission projects
· NEMA roadmap details the convoluted path to approval for transmission corridors
· DOE identifies country’s worst transmission congestion
· S&P: A look at the dynamics shaping U.S. electric transmission companies (video)
· The transmission smart grid imperative
· New coalition’s mission: Drain the transmission planning swamp
· Transmission system investments growing, says EEI report
Electric power transmission – smart grid technologies
· Smart grid forces transmission operators to find new, better tools, warns NERC report
· ABB unveils platform for improved grid quality (video)
· Transmission is getting smarter with advanced power electronics
· PJM smartens up transmission grid with more synchrophasors · Power for the long haul: Breaking new ground with superconducting DC cable
· Electric power transmission efficiency initiative
· Sensor technologies for a smart electric power transmission system
· AEP: The electric interstate highway of the future (video)
Electric power transmission – renewable integration
· Smart grid technologies and renewables will drive investment in HVDC transmission
· Case study: the role of transmission in renewables development
· Big problem in Texas: lots of wind, no way to transmit it all
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