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The new "Seams" study from the
US National Renewable Energy Lab encourages interconnecting the US electric
grids into a single network. As with most nations, the optimal hydro, wind and
solar resources are often far from cities. The only way to get that clean
energy to markets is with high-voltage AC or DC transmission. This new study offers
a contemporary imperative.
 The investigators
reached four main conclusions:
- "Substantial
value" exists in increasing the transfer capacity between grids.
- Cross-seam
transmission has a substantial impact on the location, size and type of
hydro/wind/solar that could be developed in a region.
- Cross-seam
transmission enables substantial energy and operating reserve sharing
- on an hourly (east-west) basis,
- on a seasonal basis (north-south), and
- in weather-related peak events.
- Additional
benefits include enhanced frequency response and resilience to extreme events.
We are thrilled
with this validation of the GENI initiative. More important, now we need to
design, fund and build out this 'renewable + transmission' network.
This
solution works on all continents between all nations: Develop renewables, build
transmission and we all share the benefits.
In Partnership for the Planet, |
