California ISO Plan Will Accommodate Heavy Renewables Integration

[kristopher]

California ISO Plan Will Accommodate Heavy Renewables Integration

The California Independent System Operator Corp.'s (California ISO) board of governors has approved the organization's 2010-2011 transmission plan - the majority of which reflects an increased emphasis on integrating renewable energy resources.

The plan includes 33 grid-reliability upgrades and $1.2 billion in policy-driven upgrades. The ISO notes that this is the first comprehensive grid plan that considers projects aimed specifically at meeting California’s 33% renewable portfolio standard in concert with projects aimed at supporting reliability and providing economic benefits to ratepayers.

An important part of the plan is the acknowledgement that the transmission infrastructure approved to date by the ISO is "adequate to carry thousands of new megawatts to meet the nation's most ambitious renewable resources goal." The transmission projects that have already been approved through the ISO planning process (or identified in large generator interconnection agreements) are currently progressing through the California Public Utilities Commission, the ISO adds...

http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.6786

[FBaggins]

1. Do you happen to know how California "scores" hydro power for the 33%?

Efficiency gains at existing plants? Increased capacity at existing plants? Pumped storage?

[msongs]

2. hmm with all the water flowing in the Sierras this year electricity must be cranking big time lol nt

[pscot]

3. This seems like a big deal

Adapting the transmission grid is the essential first step for wider use of renewable, and intermittent, sources.

[kristopher]

4. It is.

Just for your reference the term used by electric engineers working in the area of renewables and grid integration is "variable" not intermittent.

[FBaggins]

5. It's actually both.

A single windmill is both intermittent and variable. A portfolio of wind power is variable.

[pscot]

6. Yeah, but variability sounds like a feature

whereas intermittent could be problem. :P

[kristopher]

15. Actually that isn't it.

As I wrote when I mentioned it, variable is the preferred term in the topic of grid integration of wind and solar into a grid conceptualized around renewables. That is because their distributed nature causes them to present to the grid design as a fluctuation issue more than as a an on-off-on-off issue. Part of the nature of a nuclear plant is that the degree of its intermittent nature, though small, is of very high significance to a grid operator. It shuts off suddenly for 7 days because of a stuck valve or something and 1GW of replacement has to be found in an instant.

The way renewables are spread out, however means that their contribution varies far more on a minute by by minute basis, but the on-off part of their nature as a block is highly predictable, and thus amenable to mitigation via planning.

[Yo_Mama]

7. By definition solar power is intermittent n/t

[FBaggins]

8. Well... to be fair... solar power is constant.

Our ability to pick it up at any given location is what is intermittent. :)

[Yo_Mama]

16. Power?

Insolation of the earth is relatively constant throughout the day, but from any practical POV, the power derived from it is intermittent.

[kristopher]

18. See post 15

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=297284&mesg_id=297389

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. One of the issues this does not address is transmission lines

The Mojave desert is prime solar country but one of the primary limitations on more solar facilities is the lack of transmission lines and the difficulty in getting new ones. It has impacted everything from the Fed Gov owned geothermal plants near Olancha to my own solar field which I can not grow further until larger capacity lines are available.

The challenge is not just generation, it is all facets of grid operation. While moving us off of non-renewables is a great thing, it is not the only issue out there.

[diane in sf]

10. All the rooftops are the primest locations--generate power where it's used.

[FBaggins]

11. That's a somewhat limited use of the word "primest"

Ignoring the fact that it isn't a word at all :)

I get the desire to decentralize as much as possible, but lots of rooftops don't get much sun. It doesn't make sense to put up a $10,000 set of panels in a location that will save you $30/month just because you don't like centralized power.

Now... rooftops IN desert areas could make lots of sense.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Ground mount makes it a bit easier

Better for maintenance/cleaning/upgrades. Also makes adjustable collectors more affordable and practical. In many parts of the desert, space is not a consideration, though in Las Vegas and other desert cites, roof top is clearly the way to go.

A friend put in a grid tied installation recently. He covered a 2 car garage with 16 standard cells. It provides enough power when taken on an annual basis for his 4 bdrm home. That is not a remarkable thing any more.

I am currently limited by what the elec company will allow me to put out (wire size). I am producing well in excess of my needs and getting paid for it. Then again, I have lots of space and live in the desert.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. Yield in SF is not where as good as that in the Mojave desert

and that drives the economics. Facing, shadows, and available energy all matter. The desert which has no facing issues, no shadows and the highest available energy is the smart place to invest in solar. Economies of scale kick in which does not happen on small residential installations. Cites actually have more wire limitations than rural areas as well.

http://solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html is a good place to understand available energy. Compare San Francisco to Bakersfield as a start

[Yo_Mama]

14. A very good point

And it really involves all major source current types of renewables. That's why Germany is looking at such a big investment in their grid.

[kristopher]

17. The specific point addressed is transmission lines.

From the OP:
"An important part of the plan is the acknowledgement that transmission infrastructure approved to date by the ISO is "adequate to carry thousands of new megawatts to meet the nation's most ambitious renewable resources goal." The transmission projects that have already been approved through the ISO planning process (or identified in large generator interconnection agreements) are currently progressing through the California Public Utilities Commission, the ISO adds."

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Clearly you are unaware of the difficulties in CA of adding or upgrading transmission lines

Any number of reasons, but multiple renewable projects have been dropped due to those issues. Brown's pronouncements while well intentioned have no teeth to address those and they are critical. There is already a business case with the existing technology but the lack of transmission capability is a problem.

Here is an article from a local paper from an area a ways north of me. Prime solar country to help address SoCal power needs and they can not get it out of the area. http://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/x1539861379/Edison-highlights-constraints-to-solar-projects

[kristopher]

20. Clearly you are unable to read.

From the OP:
FOLSOM, Calif. – The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) Board of Governors yesterday approved the 2010-2011 Transmission Plan that includes 33 grid upgrades for addressing future reliability and policy-driven needs worth $1.2 billion. The approval provides a timely decision that will aid renewable power projects seeking financing. The ISO accelerated its planning process by six months so that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects could meet eligibility criteria.
The plan demonstrates that the transmission infrastructure approved to date by the ISO is adequate to carry thousands of new megawatts to meet the nation’s most ambitious renewable resources goal. The transmission projects that are already approved through the ISO planning process, or identified in large generator interconnection agreements, or are progressing through the CPUC approval process accommodate a diverse range of resource portfolios for meeting a 33% RPS.
“The finding that no major new transmission projects are needing approval by the ISO at this time to support RPS reflects years of effort by the ISO, state agencies, the California Transmission Planning Group, participants in the Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative and market participants that resulted in the approval and ongoing construction of major transmission projects such as Tehachapi and the Sunrise Powerlink,” said Vice President of Market and Infrastructure Development, Keith Casey, Ph.D.
The need for access to renewable resources in Imperial County created the need for the first policy-driven transmission project—a category enabled by the ISO’s new transmission planning process approved by FERC last December. The project involves re-conductoring the Devers- Mirage 230 kV double circuit line (Path 42), located in the Southern California Edison transmission service territory.



The ISO Board has a couple of Brown's appointees but to say it is the same as "Brown's pronouncement" is sheer absurdity. As in every other post you make you are once again just coincidentally motivated to try and find something negative about renewable energy; but hey, you aren't trying to make nuclear look good, not you.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Clearly you are unaware that ISO board has no no real authority or power

to make things happen. If you understood the details of the approval process, you might actually be able to contribute positively to the discussion, not just invalid slurs.

Gov Brown has been pounding the renewables drum for years and is making it a cornerstone of his administration. A very good thing IMNSHO. However, the roadblocks are still in place and he is yet to be able to effect major changes in the approval process and get things moving.

[kristopher]

22. ISO has no real authority to make things happen?

No, of course not. they are just the people that design and operate the regional grids. Why should we ever listen to them? Much better to pay attention to an internet renewable naysayer who demonstrates a total lack of awareness of the issues of the day.



FOLSOM, Calif. – The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) Board of Governors yesterday approved the 2010-2011 Transmission Plan that includes 33 grid upgrades for addressing future reliability and policy-driven needs worth $1.2 billion. The approval provides a timely decision that will aid renewable power projects seeking financing. The ISO accelerated its planning process by six months so that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects could meet eligibility criteria.
The plan demonstrates that the transmission infrastructure approved to date by the ISO is adequate to carry thousands of new megawatts to meet the nation’s most ambitious renewable resources goal. The transmission projects that are already approved through the ISO planning process, or identified in large generator interconnection agreements, or are progressing through the CPUC approval process accommodate a diverse range of resource portfolios for meeting a 33% RPS.
“The finding that no major new transmission projects are needing approval by the ISO at this time to support RPS reflects years of effort by the ISO, state agencies, the California Transmission Planning Group, participants in the Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative and market participants that resulted in the approval and ongoing construction of major transmission projects such as Tehachapi and the Sunrise Powerlink,” said Vice President of Market and Infrastructure Development, Keith Casey, Ph.D.
The need for access to renewable resources in Imperial County created the need for the first policy-driven transmission project—a category enabled by the ISO’s new transmission planning process approved by FERC last December. The project involves re-conductoring the Devers- Mirage 230 kV double circuit line (Path 42), located in the Southern California Edison transmission service territory.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Do you always take utility company press releases at face value?

They are no substitute for real working knowledge of the problem, but then again you have none of that either.

To call those of us who are actually supporting renewables and participating in the process as Internet naysayers is laughable. Then again, that is about all you are capable of...

[kristopher]

24. Still waiting for those details you can never provide...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

25. Some were provided upthread about transmission line issues

As others have pointed out, I waste too much posting time on you as it is...pearls before swine kind of thing.

Learn about power grids really work and stop with the fraudulent smears and more of us will take you seriously.

[kristopher]

26. Still waiting. There are no details - here or "upthread"