Full Title: Economic, Reliability, and Resiliency Benefits of Interregional Transmission Capacity: Case Study Focusing on the Eastern United States in 2035
Author(s): GE Energy Consulting
Publisher(s): Natural Resources Defense Council
Publication Date: October 17, 2022
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The United States electric grid is in a state of transition. The country is shifting towards lower carbon sources while facing more frequent extreme weather events that challenge the ability to keep the lights on. Greater grid flexibility is the key to reliable decarbonization in the face of uncertainty. One of the most cost-efficient forms of flexibility while maintaining resiliency is greater reliance on interregional imports and exports of electricity.
GE Energy Consulting (GE) knows the value of interregional flexibility from its own study experience. Back in our 2010 Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, GE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) identified the value of higher interregional flexibility to support California’s decarbonization goals. This work helped support the 2014 launch of the Western Energy Imbalance Market that is operating today and has enabled over $2B in gross benefits across its 17 members.
In this study, we broaden our perspective to ask and illustrate the more general question: What are the benefits of interregional transmission? Answering this question should be based on the three types of ratepayer benefits: Resiliency, Affordability, and Stability.