Operators unite to face grid challenges
November 21, 2013 | By
Barbara Vergetis Lundin
The GO15, made up of the leaders of 16 of the largest power grid operators in the world, are calling for more grid infrastructure investment across the globe. The CEOs say that the current rate of change in the electricity industry is unprecedented and presents emerging challenges driven by the transition to lower emissions generation and a changing fuel mix, as well as changes in technology, economic factors and consumer behavior.
These challenges require power grids to upgrade grid infrastructure and expand interconnections between power systems. Investment is needed to develop the information technology systems and "smart" IT systems required for the monitoring and control of power flows under increasingly complex operational conditions. "All of the world's grids share a similar problem," said Terry Boston, GO15 president and president and CEO of PJM Interconnection. "We all face reliability and operational challenges in a rapidly changing industry. The specifics of those challenges may differ from nation to nation, such as how best to connect renewable generation that is often far from population centers, the retirement of conventional power plants and the rapid growth of electricity use in emerging economies." The world's grids all face reliability and operational challenges in connecting and integrating new generation sources and renewable generation (such as photovoltaic, geothermal and wind), which is often intermittent and located far from load centers, which can be compounded with the retirement of conventional power plants. Power grids are also faced with increasing threats from terrorism and climate change, resulting in the need for increased grid resilience and protection. "There's no silver bullet to ensure resilience for the grid. What we need is more like silver buckshot that encompasses multiple approaches," Boston said. "Resilience is a learning process, and it is best when we learn from others' handling of crises…We're working closely with government and industry to blunt threats wherever possible and to meet them with determination and resilience." To accommodate these changes and protect the grid, operators and asset owners must support safety and reliability, economically efficient, sustainable investments, and a stable regulatory framework. For more: © 2013 FierceMarkets. All rights reserved. http://www.fierceenergy.com http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/operators-unite-face-grid-challenges/2013-11-21 |