Jim Connolly

AES Indiana knows that EVs are coming, but like many utilities, they didn't exactly know where they are now, or how customer adoption might impact their grid. When does EV adoption add up to something they need to care about? We ran a bottoms-up analysis, starting by finding existing EVs, and then modeling the future impact of EV adoption for every substation, feeder circuit, and transformer on their grid. At just 5% adoption, the costs are significant enough to warrant intervention. Without mitigation, the potential cost blowup is in the $100m+ range. And what can a utility do about this? We also modelled multiple interventions - time of use rates, managed charging, and a data driven planning scenario which is effectively "data as a non wires alternative". Big takeaways: *Time Of Use rates are much worse than doing nothing.* Managed charging shows the highest cost savings, but much of that can also be realized by just actively monitoring EV activity and load growth and using that data to drive less conservative planning assumptions. Data as a non wires alternative! We're excited to be able to share this work - we've done similar analyses on other grids, but AES was excited to share these results to help other utilities struggling with the same problem. Very grateful for their willingness to share!

106

6 Comments

BPA Evolving Grid Project (EGP 2.0) proposed 13 new project at the cost of $3 billion to support regional electrification and clean energy goals. These projects drives significant expansion in the capacities. Below are the 13 projects. ➡️ Grand Coulee-Columbia-Schultz 500kV ➡️Schultz-Olympia 500kV ➡️Central Oregon 500kV Dynamic Reactive Upgrades ➡️RATS: Reno-Alturas Reactive Addition ➡️North of Marion Upgrade #1 ➡️North of Marion Upgrade #2 ➡️North of Pearl ➡️Big Eddy-Quenett Creek Upgrade ➡️Ostrander-Pearl #1 Upgrade ➡️Big Eddy-The Dalles Rebuild ➡️Lower Columbia to Nevada-Oregon Border A. Lower Columbia to Bonanza B. Bonanza to NOB The demand for Northwest data centers expected to grow 30% within the next few years. With this expansion of the transmission projects the demand growth can be met to considerable extent but BPA has to speed up this approach. #greenenergy #datacenter #cleanenergy #ai #generativeai #transmission #transmission #renewable #networkupgrade #upgrades #reliability #planning #reinforcements #oregon #bpa #demand #load

13

Big question I get is how the election results will impact US Power Markets long term vs short term. Please register to join us online for a review of that and other energy related topics.

14

ICYMI: Earlier this morning, the CenterPoint Energy CEO issued a statement that included the following commitments to our customers going forward: "In spite of all of this progress, I want you to know that we have heard and understand your frustrations. Always working to be a better company is fundamental to everything we do, and that starts with me as CEO. We are committed to doing a thorough review of our response to support our customers and our communities, especially when they need us most. To that end, we have already identified the following areas that will be our immediate focus following this event: Improving Communication with our Customers: We are committed to communicating more and differently with our customers, including through daily press briefings. We also are resolved to do a better job helping customers plan for when they will have information about when power will be restored to their homes and businesses. Launching New Outage Tracker: We understand our customers' frustration from not having our outage tracker over the past several weeks. We are committing to launching a cloud-based solution in early August that customers can rely on as the best source of information. Engaging our Community for Feedback: We're committed to hearing you and understanding how you feel we can do better. We intend to conduct a listening tour across our communities to gather feedback so that we can implement improvements in future restoration efforts. Over the coming days, we will continue our tireless efforts to turn the lights back on for every last customer. We know our customers are counting on us, and it's a great privilege to serve you.​" #beryl #txlege

113

8 Comments

Join me at the #OMAEnergyConference to discover what manufacturers and energy professionals are doing to meet the needs of growing load and their energy demands.

7

2 Comments

The PJM Energy Capacity market is experiencing a surge in demand for electric generation, leading to price hikes. Michigan's decision to restart its nuclear power plants aligns with this trend. Stay updated on the changing energy market landscape. #EnergyMarket #ElectricGeneration #NuclearPower #PJMCapacityAuction

4

The U.S. needs to expand its transmission grid by 60% by 2030 to meet clean energy goals, but delays are costing billions. In the latest episode of The Energy Gang, Ed Crooks speaks with Amy Jaffe and Christina Hayes about the barriers to transmission development and the impact of the Manchin-Barrasso Bill. Listen now. https://okt.to/VRrU1I

1

I really enjoyed chatting with Rebecca McManus and appearing on #EnergyUnplugged, discussing the crucial role networks play in achieving #netzero. ⚡ The importance of energy networks cannot be underestimated, they are the backbone of the UK’s energy system and play an integral part in decarbonising the country’s power system. During the discussion I focus on some of the key challenges we face as a sector, but also the huge opportunities available in achieving a clean, secure and affordable energy future - and I touch on some of these below. On #connections, we have made real progress in the last 5 years, and we’re well underway with the #GreatGridUpgrade, the biggest overhaul of the grid since its inception. 🔌 But there is still a lot of work to do, and we cannot afford to be complacent. We need to ensure the grid we are building today is fit for the future. The Government’s Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, setting out what needs to be built, where, and when, will be key to both meeting our climate targets and achieving longer-term connections reform. We need to continue to work closely with communities – we welcomed the government’s recent consultation on community benefits and want to see it implemented. We feel strongly that benefits should be bespoke, and tailored to, the communities they impact. We also know that to achieve net zero, hundreds of thousands of jobs need to be filled. We need to ensure we are not only attracting and retaining the #futurenetzeroworkforce, but retraining and developing those who wish to transfer from other sectors. 🎧 You can listen to more of my reflections on these topics and others in the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eEhjEneK

87

2 Comments

Community engagement is critical for the success of any renewable project. This is not controversial, but I would argue, even with all the resources in place today; it remains an underappreciated aspect of the industry. More can be done; more local engagement, more local investment, but even more importantly, more follow-up reporting on the benefits of these community engagement efforts (many unique to specific local communities). There are many great stories out there: How many parks have renewable projects constructed? How many local fire trucks were purchased? How many classrooms were funded? How many small family farms were saved? There are many stories that need to be given voice as we continue adoption across the country. #Renewables #RenewableEnergy

10

1 Comment

⚡ Unlocking New Levels of Customer Satisfaction at BKV Energy! ⚡ I am proud of the work that Crystal Embury Hagler and Joshua Martin have led to unveil our new Customer Portal, a testament to the BKV Energy commitment to leverage data-driven insights to exceed expectations. At BKVE, we understand that delivering exceptional service requires more than just meeting needs – it’s about anticipating them. That’s why our portal was developed through rigorous analysis of customer feedback and user data, ensuring we don’t just meet but over-deliver on customer satisfaction. 📊 Data-Driven Excellence: By harnessing the power of customer insights, we’ve crafted a platform that offers personalized experiences and actionable data at every touchpoint. 👩‍💼 Customer Advantage: Our focus on usability means you can efficiently manage energy needs, helping you focus on what matters to you. Partner with BKV Energy and experience how a data-driven approach can lead to greater customer satisfaction and business success. #EnergyInnovation #CustomerSuccess #DataDriven #BKVEnergy

33

1 Comment

Our new edition of Plugged in With PFES is here! Learn how PFES' consultative expertise has helped manage a $450M project portfolio, from transmission lines, greenfield substations, to new solar/wind generation interconnects. #OwnerManagement #Utilities #PFES

9

“There is danger of a backlash to the energy transition if it drives up costs for consumers.”-Sense CEO Mike Phillips To really nail load forecasting and keep costs in check, there needs to be better grid visibility. When utilities can see what’s happening right at the edge, they can predict demand more accurately and better manage energy distribution. This means lower costs and a more reliable energy supply. 💡 Small shifts like this can make a huge difference in how we power the future. What do you think about expanding grid visibility? #GridEdge #GridReliability #CostControl #LoadForecast

9

2 Comments

A quick read on how to help you bridge the gap in achieving rapid carbon emission reduction goals without compromising on reliability or affordability of natural gas. #naturalgas #carbonoffsets #renewablenaturalgas #GHG

2

Check out the Enverus Morning Energy Podcast. I shared my thoughts with Andrew Gillick on load growth drivers and how Demand Response is one keys to addressing grid reliability and sustainability cost effectively.

14

1 Comment

As renewable energy’s role in the energy mix increases, energy equity programs help address the disproportionate impact of costs to low-income households and overcome obstacles to customer satisfaction. In Renewable Energy World, TRC's Duane Baldwin offers approaches for improving renewable energy availability to underserved communities. Read more: https://okt.to/ASWCsd #Renewables #EnergyGeneration

11

1 Comment

Ready to unlock the potential of Digital Grid Management in 2024? Join this webinar series to learn how AspenTech’s solutions can improve operator experience, add advanced automation and optimization to daily operations, support regulatory mandates, enhance cyber security, accelerate the transition to clean energy, and more!

21

Have you opened your copy of AESP's Quarterly Intel Magazine? If not, highly recommend as there are a number of great articles. I'm especially excited about the last article in the issue (pages 68-73) which digs into gas demand flexibility programs. The article was a collaborative effort between DNV's own Vijay Gopalakrishnan along with Mona Chandra, AIA, LEED AP (National Grid) and Amy Findlay, P.E. (Eversource). It's been so much fun to see this area of demand flexibility being deployed and studied over the past few years. As we continue to tackle the energy transition, hybrid heating, demand response, and behavioral programs are essential. https://lnkd.in/eZi-s8VZ #hybridheating #gasDR #demandflexibility #pilots #DSM

24

2 Comments