Optimizing Transmission Level Renewable Energy Interconnection

September 24, 2024 | Online :: Central Time

0924-transmission-interconnection

“EUCI is one of the best ways to keep up on trends in the utility business!” – Principal Assistant City Attorney, City of Glendale Water and Power

“The interaction with EUCI and the attendees gives everyone the ability to lean on each other’s experiences that hopefully mitigate the challenges when you happen to go through the same thing yourself.” Supervisor Distribution Design, Ameren

This conference aims to address the challenges that can impede the seamless integration of renewable resources into the transmission grid. The process of interconnecting these new renewable energy projects, both large-scale and small-scale, requires careful attention to ensure the grid’s stability and reliability are maintained. Attendees will explore new strategies and innovations that can help mitigate the challenges of renewable energy interconnection and optimize grid performance.

Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate the requirements and benefits of bulk system upgrades for improved renewable energy integration
• Identify the root causes of interconnection queue backlogs
• Explore innovative solutions and policy reforms to streamline interconnection processes
• Review the typical utility studies, phased analysis, and result interpretations
• Examine the costs associated with utility upgrades and self-build options
• Analyze various ISO/RTO interconnection queue reform approaches
• Examine the challenges IPPs face in different ISOs and RTOs
• Review policy changes, transmission service requirements, and the impact of curtailment risks
• Review tariff-based interconnection products outside the standard queue
• Explore the increasing trend of shared network upgrades among ISOs and utilities

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 : Central Time

9:00 – 9:05 a.m. :: Overview and Instructions

9:05 – 9:45 a.m. :: Incorporating Renewable Energy Interconnection into Transmission Planning

This presentation will explore interconnection moving out of its silo and becoming part of transmission planning. Some discussion topics include:

• FERC Order 1920
• SPP’s SCRIPT process
• MISO/SPP’s JTIQ process
• Reliability and economic planning
• Bulk system upgrade

Ted Thomas, Founding Partner, Energize Strategies

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. :: Navigating the Challenges of Renewable Energy Interconnection Queues

This presentation will delve into the complexities of the interconnection process, exploring the causes behind the growing backlog of projects awaiting grid connection. Participants will gain insights into innovative solutions and policy reforms aimed at streamlining interconnection procedures, reducing wait times, and accelerating the integration of solar and energy storage projects. 

Fred Raddatz, Principal Interconnection Planning Engineer, QCells USA Corp.

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:45 – 11:45 a.m. :: Utility Interconnection Process and Management of Overloaded Queues

This presentation will provide an overview of the utility interconnection process in the United States and how overcrowded queues with proposed capacities beyond the utility needs are being managed. The discussion will cover the typical utility studies including phased analysis and interpretation of the study results. In addition, the types of costs associated with utility upgrades and self-build options will be presented.

Eddie Dehdashti, Ph.D., P.E. CTO, Power Applications and Research Systems, Inc.

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. :: Beyond Order 2023: How are ISO/RTOs Approaching the Next Wave of Interconnection Queue Reforms?

This session will focus on taking a deeper look at CAISO’s Zonal Approach, MISO’s Queue Cap Approach, and SPP’s Consolidated Planning Process. For each approach the talk will cover:

• Summary of the proposal to date
• Pros of the approach
• Cons (from an interconnection customers perspective)
• Additional guardrails that could make the proposal more effective
• How interconnection customers and stakeholders can work with ISO/RTOs to improve the process

Bridget Sparks, PhD, Interconnection Policy Manager, AES Renewables

12:45 – 1:45 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:45 – 2:30 p.m. :: Addressing Renewable Energy Interconnection Challenges Across Various Markets

This presentation will examine the difficulties Independent Power Producers (IPPs) encounter when integrating into various Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs)

• Interconnection process
• High network upgrade costs
• Charging restrictions
• TO Self-fund option
• Contingent upgrades
• Policy changes
• Transmission Service Requirements
• Curtailment risk

Brindavani Malladi, Vice President – Transmission and Interconnection, Arevon Energy, Inc.

2:30 – 3:15 p.m. :: Surplus Service, Generator Replacement, and Provisional Interconnections

This presentation will examine the availability and use of tariff-based interconnection products outside the standard queue. Subject to include:

• Product definitions
• Drivers
• Strategy trade-offs and risks
• Use cases
• Surplus service enhancements

Richard Seide, Vice President, Grid Strategies LLC

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. :: Exploring the Impact of Shared Network Upgrades

Network upgrades shared between Interconnection Customers are increasing as more ISOs and Utilities trend towards group studies and as larger groups of Interconnection Customers are studied together. This presentation will delve into several shared network upgrade topics including:

• General study process for determining shared network upgrades
• How costs are allocated for shared network upgrades
• Project interdependency caused by shared network upgrades
• Shared Network Upgrade impact on project progression

James Thomas, Director of Grid Integration and Electric Markets, Radia Inc.

Eddie Dehdashti, Ph.D., P.E. CTO, Power Applications and Research Systems, Inc.

Brindavani Malladi, Vice President – Transmission and Interconnection, Arevon

Fred Raddatz, Principal Interconnection Planning Engineer, QCells USA Corp.

Richard Seide, Vice President, Grid Strategies LLC

Bridget Sparks, PhD, Interconnection Policy Manager, AES Renewables

James Thomas, Director of Grid Integration and Electric Markets, Radia Inc.

Ted Thomas, Founding Partner, Energize Strategies

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Optimizing Transmission Level Renewable Energy Interconnection

September 24, 2024 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before August 23, 2024 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for this event.

Verify our IACET accreditation

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Power Point presentations and group discussion

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Conference CPE Credits: 7.0
There is no prerequisite for this Conference.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

 

Who Should Attend

• Transmission Planners and Managers
• Grid Integration Specialists
• Renewable Energy Project Developers and Managers
• Engineers
• Interconnection Specialists
• Energy Consultants
• Regulatory Affairs Specialists
• Utility Representatives
• Compliance Officers
• Policy Managers