US transmission showing age... New England needs $3.5B... Utilities concerned about aging grid

Fitch says U.S. transmission system showing its age. Fitch Ratings has published a report stating that the U.S. power delivery system is showing the strains of aging infrastructure, obsolete technologies and considerable underinvestment. In the last 10 years, investment has gone toward constructing new facilities and not toward restoring existing equipment. Shrinking availability of parts and outdated equipment also pose a challenge. The demand for electricity and generation has increased two-fold in the last 30 years but utilities and transmission companies have only recently begun addressing the gaps.

   QuickTake: When a financial rating firm takes potshots at the grid, they are hitting investor-owned utilities where they feel it the most—in their wallets.

   Power Online article

ISO New England recommends $3.5B in new transmission. ISO New England has published its 2006 assessment of regional generation and transmission power needs i through 2015. New England’s peak electricity demand is likely to increase by 1.9% yearly through 2015. The region requires about 170MW additional generation resources by 2009 and 4,300MW by 2015. It also needs to invest an additional $3.5B is transmission, while making more use of demand response, energy efficiency and conservation.

   ISO New England Inc press release (PDF)

Black & Veatch surveys U.S. electric utility industry. Reliability emerged as a primary concern in Black & Veatch’s 2006 survey of U.S. electric utilities. No surprise there.  But also on their minds are enhancements to the transmission grid, and additional power generation, the aging workforce and the outdated infrastructure.

   QuickTake: At least they’re worrying about the right things, even if they aren’t always doing anything about it.

   Black & Veatch press release

NYSTAR gives $1.23M for distributed power test-bed. The New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) has granted $1.23M to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to create a distributed power “test-bed” to assess the impact of renewable energy sources on the electric grid. The program will examine the implications of New York's 2012 alternative energy goal. The Institute will partner with New-York based companies such as Sensitron Semiconductor, Inverters Unlimited and Advanced Energy Conversion.

   QuickTake: With more and more states insisting that utilities bring in renewables, they must now urgently study how to reach those goals without bringing down the grid. We predict many similar research initiatives in the years to come.

   Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute press release (PDF)

Galvin Electricity Initiative paints alarming picture. In its latest report “Forecasting the Future of Electricity," the Galvin Electricity Initiative advocates greater energy efficiency, consumer-centric policies, reliable power, capacity building and smart technologies. Without a full-scale transformation of the electric infrastructure, the organization predicts a bleak future for the U.S. economy and lifestyle.

   QuickTake: You can add this to the already huge stack of “Something Must Be Done” studies issued over the past decade. Sadly, we still have all too few reports of the “Here’s What to Do and How to Pay for It” variety.

   The Galvin Electricity Initiative complete report (PDF)

   The Galvin Electricity Initiative press release

New international Smart Grid research collaborative forms. In a bid to assist countries in developing robust and efficient electric grids, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and other regional bodies have teamed to launch a cooperation and collaboration program called Electricity Networks Analysis, Research and Development (ENARD). The new five-year program will focus on new technologies and best practices in the energy sector.

   QuickTake: Will North American grid coalitions take advantage of these and similar opportunities to collaborate with colleagues overseas? Or will they (foolishly and incorrectly) continue to act as if North America is the only source of technology advances?

   Metering.com article