Design Study Requirements for a US Macrogrid

Publication Date

March 2, 2022

Page Number

55

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Authors

Design Study Requirements for a US Macrogrid

Outlines the critical steps and factors to consider when designing a macrogrid in the United States. A macrogrid is a large-scale interconnected network of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems to provide reliable and efficient electricity across a broad area. In addition to the fundamental components, the report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the macrogrid’s elements, including power generation, transmission, and distribution systems and their interconnections. Moreover, it tackles the challenges and opportunities in macrogrid design, such as integrating renewable energy sources, optimizing energy distribution, and managing energy demand.

Overview

Executive Summary

Begins by highlighting the necessity for a clean electricity future in the United States. It emphasizes the significant development of bulk transmission infrastructure. It also outlines the hurdles states, utilities and consumers face as they strive to lower carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources. Subsequently, the importance of advanced hybrid grids and the macrogrid concept is underlined. This system features a backbone of long-distance lines with networked, multi-terminal HVDC technology. In addition, the summary addresses the inadequacy of current transmission development methods. Finally, it underlines the need for new strategies to foster a clean energy future.

Introduction

Highlights states, utilities, and consumers’ substantial commitments to decrease carbon emissions in the power sector and shift towards cleaner energy sources. Furthermore, this section underscores the necessity for comprehensive transmission infrastructure to facilitate the nationwide distribution of clean electricity. In addition, it cites recent studies that underscore the vital role of transmission in realizing a clean energy future in the United States. Notably, it mentions workshops conducted by the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG). These workshops bring together industry experts to plan transmission for a macrogrid proactively. Above all, these workshops concentrate on the design’s reliability, resilience, economic, and operational aspects.

Macrogrid Design and Attributes

There is a discourse on the potential transformation of the US bulk power system by introducing a transmission overlay that spans the entire nation. The term “macrogrid” has recently surfaced in discussions about the US grid’s future, though its definition remains somewhat fluid. This section strongly emphasizes the need for transformative thinking to address the grid’s current fragmented state and the barriers to developing clean energy resources. Subsequently, it suggests that a thoughtfully designed macrogrid could effectively overcome these obstacles. In this way, it would facilitate the integration of a wide range of resources, leading to improved reliability and resilience on a national scale.

Recommended Macrogrid Design Studies

Emphasizes the importance of previous studies that have addressed potential transmission expansion to support high levels of clean electricity, notably macrogrid overlays. First, it suggests incorporating essential transmission planning principles to ensure system reliability. Then, it proposes adding technical details on how an overlay should be built and operated. Additionally, it explores how a well-designed macrogrid could transform the operation of the US bulk power system.

Moreover, the section advocates for evaluating a macrogrid concept incorporating novel technologies. It suggests doing this at a similar level of detail as more conventional options for expanding the bulk electric system to support a new future.

Reliability Analysis

Stresses using the macrogrid to maximize the reliability and economic benefits of the bulk AC grid operation. It discusses, in detail, enhancing the security performance of the bulk power system using a macrogrid overlay. This process is essential to understanding the interaction between the macrogrid and the reinforced AC bulk power system.

Moreover, it underscores the importance of identifying and mitigating new and existing security challenges that pose significant risks. Lastly, the text highlights the need to examine how the macrogrid can improve the performance and value of the underlying bulk power system, specifically regarding stability and operational changes brought about by introducing new technologies.

Resilience Analysis

Begins by addressing the need for preparedness and responsiveness to high-impact grid-damaging events. These events could include extreme weather or physical and cyber-attacks. The emphasis here is on designing the macrogrid to endure severe challenges, continue operations, and quickly recover from such events. It proposes resilience metrics for analyzing different macrogrid options against standard grid scenarios.

These metrics notably include the loss of load expectation, the number of customers affected by grid failure, the economic impacts of outages, and the macrogrid’s ability to expedite service restoration after extreme events. Lastly, the document recommends assessing the performance of transmission and power system scenarios against a set of resilience metrics. Interestingly, these metrics are closely related to reliability metrics and help ensure the macrogrid’s ability to withstand and recover from various threats and events.

Economics and Feasibility

Explores using macrogrid designs to examine line routing issues, estimate capital costs for constructing a macrogrid over a specific timeline, and evaluate ancillary economic benefits. It emphasizes the necessity of evaluating the costs, benefits, cost-effectiveness, and performance of different transmission and power system situations using consistent economic analysis methods.

Furthermore, it suggests employing a consistent set of metrics and assumptions for macrogrid and HVAC BAU analyses to assess the economic feasibility and potential benefits of various macrogrid designs. Notably, it underscores the need to consider economic and technical factors when designing and evaluating macrogrid alternatives for grid expansion.

Operations and Operability

Outlines the goals for creating technical and organizational structures responsible for the macrogrid overlay operation. It then discusses coordination with regional markets and entities and identifies new tools and methods necessary for a national operational mission. Importantly, this section underscores the potential of a macrogrid to improve the operation of the existing bulk power grid by maximizing reliability and consumer economic benefits.

It further proposes that the entire US bulk power system could benefit from the macrogrid, albeit necessitating a significant shift in current operational practices. Lastly, it stresses the need to evaluate how the macrogrid could integrate with existing and planned DC connections and AC transmission systems to ensure efficient and reliable nationwide energy transport.

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