This report provides a novel methodology for planning regional transmission system upgrades using advanced conductors (ACs) and evaluates their impact on the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) transmission system's reliability and stability. The study highlights that reconductoring existing lines with ACs offers a cost-effective and time-saving...

The practice of requiring long-term firm point-to-point transmission rights for new generators in the Pacific Northwest traditionally supported reliability for utilities that rely on BPA transmission, but has not adapted well to an environment with increasing penetrations of renewable resources. This paper describes reforms to...

Grid-Forming (GFM) Inverters GFM have received a lot of attention recently in power system organizations including NERC. The technology promises to address many of the stability issues facing the transmission system as the resource mix moves from spinning assets to inverter based resources. However...

This report describes the transmission system reliability risks associated with the retirement of synchronous generators, such as coal and natural gas plants, and the shift towards inverter-based resources like solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS). It highlights the essential reliability services provided by...

Surplus interconnection refers to the practice of allowing new electricity supply resources to connect to the grid using the same interconnection rights that have already been allocated to existing generators.7 As outlined in the Surplus Interconnection Technical Whitepaper, hundreds of gigawatts (GW) of power plants...

The U.S. electric grid is facing a triple threat of rising rates, rapid demand growth, and increasing reliability risks. These issues have wide ranging impacts on the future of America’s economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and national defense. Meanwhile, there remain challenges to quickly bring enough...

The power grid has emerged as the primary bottleneck to meeting growing electricity demand with low-cost clean energy. Demand for electricity—and especially clean electricity—has soared, driven by electrification in various sectors, the rise of data centers for artificial intelligence (AI), and booming investment in clean...

One of the pressing challenges of the clean energy transition is that getting needed new sources of electricity supply are being stymied by a combination of multi-year delays in the interconnection study process, supply chain constraints, and siting and permitting challenges...

Connected West is a 20-year transmission planning study aimed at forecasting long-range transmission infrastructure needs of the Western grid required to support a highly decarbonized and electrified economy. The study focuses on identifying “next generation” transmission investments, targeting the identification of portfolios of new transmission...

In this latest installment, the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) provides a review of California’s transmission planning, interconnection, and permitting processes so far in 2024. This report focuses on recent California...

GridLab has requested Telos Energy to review the report by PJM Transmission and Operations Planning, titled “BESS Technical Viability - Wagner and Brandon Shores Retirements,” released May 3, 2024 and...

Plummeting costs of clean energy and growing power demand from electrification, manufacturing, and data processing have made grid capacity one of the primary constraints in the energy transition. In the United States (U.S.), achieving the federal goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035...

In 2023, GridLab worked with Telos Energy to provide an analysis of replacing Maryland based coal plant Brandon Shores with a battery energy storage system (BESS). The Brandon Shores coal plant recently announced its plan to cease operation in mid-2025. However, upon study PJM found...

The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) has released two reports earlier this year on the need for expansion of the high voltage transmission system and for reform of the state’s permitting process to overcome delays in transmission project permitting and construction over...

The existing transmission system represents decades of planning decisions that were made to suit different grid and market conditions from today’s. Michigan is situated in a unique geographical position since it is within, but on the edge of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region...

The existing transmission system represents decades of planning decisions that were made to suit different grid and market conditions from today’s. Michigan is situated in a unique geographical position since it is within, but on the edge of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region...

California has made long strides towards decarbonization, but many hurdles remain. The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) along with GridLab identified key challenges facing the state in the realm of electric transmission. The state has put forth several solutions, but this report...

Understanding Michigan’s Transmission Needs: Technical Appendix. Assess the grid’s physical capabilities and constraints for moving power into the lower peninsula...

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES THIS STUDY RESPOND TO? This study was in response to the Michigan Public Service Commission Order in Docket #U-21099 dated June 23 2022. The Commission sought comments on actions and policies that might maximize benefits to the reliability of Michigan’s transmission connections...

The existing transmission system represents decades of planning decisions that were made to suit different grid and market conditions from today’s. Michigan is situated in a unique geographical position since it is within, but on the edge of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region...

Upgrading existing and building new high voltage transmission projects is currently the key challenge facing energy policymakers. Overcoming this challenge is absolutely necessary to make substantial progress in the near future towards decarbonizing...

There is an urgent need to plan the transmission grid necessary for achieving America’s increasingly ambitious offshore wind (OSW) and clean energy goals. Proactive and holistic planning for long-term transmission needs offers significant benefits, but unless these planning efforts are started now, more attractive near-term...