"Long waits for transmission #interconnection have hobbled the deployment of big #RenewableEnergy projects.
The #FERC final rule will enact several changes to the burdensome interconnection process, including shifting it from a "first come, first served" to a "first ready" approach – meaning projects that are prepared with land rights and permits would move ahead of those that are not."
Expect a surge of #RenewableEnergy on the #US grid.
"Today there is more than 2,000 gigawatts of #renewable power waiting to be connected to the grid -- nearly double the amount of current U.S. generation capacity.
The #interconnection rule is part of a broader package of reforms #FERC is working on in coming months to help hasten the deployment of renewable energy and #storage."
"Delays were expected to get even longer with #RenewableEnergy projects picking up steam as #wind and #solar energy costs fell below that of coal or gas power plants.
#FERC’s old way of doing things was designed for a #grid dominated by #FossilFuels. In the past, developers might only have focused on several large-scale power plants at a time. Now they might be juggling thousands of smaller solar, wind, and battery projects."
This is about to change.
#EnergyTransition
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/28/23811031/ferc-renewable-energy-solar-wind-project-interconnection-electricity-grid
#PJM's proposed change to the Surplus Interconnection Service (#SIS) rules "allows a new resource to use any unused portion of an existing generating facility’s #interconnection service as long as the total amount of interconnection service at the point of interconnection remains the same. "
This suggests that assigned interconnection capacity is currently under-used. I wonder by how much.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-surplus-interconnection-service-capacity-ferc/737254/
The US grid and its interconnections seriously need an upgrade. In its current state it is in the way of more renewable energy getting online.
"The findings, published in the journal Joule, show that 78% of the energy generation capacity proposed between 2000 and 2018 have withdrawn from #interconnection queues. Over that period, only 14% of proposed solar projects came online compared with 32% of natural gas plants."
https://www.pv-tech.org/80-of-energy-projects-withdraw-from-inefficient-us-grid-queues/
Too many power generators bidding for not enough interconnections means prices spike.
"PJM’s last capacity auction, held in July, produced record high capacity prices that will cost ratepayers across the grid operator’s footprint $14.7 billion for the delivery year that begins in June, up from $2.2 billion in the previous auction."
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-shapiro-pennsylvania-capacity-auction-price-cap/738591/
A price cap helps, but in the long run what's needed is a larger grid capacity, and more interconnections.
"Dismissing opposition from renewable energy developers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday approved the PJM Interconnection’s proposal for a fast-track interconnection review for shovel-ready generation projects.
#FERC also approved changes to #PJM’s rules for Surplus Interconnection Service, or #SIS, that could help get additional capacity online."
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-pjm-fast-track-surplus-interconnection-queue/739908/
