The Photo voltaic and Storage Industries Institute (SI2) launched a brand new report at this time referred to as “Interconnection Reform: How One Grid Operator Is Changing the Game,” detailing how a proposal presently into account by FERC might lastly remedy a few of the long-time points with renewable vitality interconnection.
The report discusses how the Southwest Energy Pool’s (SPP) Consolidated Planning Proposal (CPP) is placing into apply the interconnection and planning reforms lengthy superior by SI2. Preliminary feedback on the SPP proposal are resulting from FERC on November 24.
“Southwest Energy Pool’s proposal is among the most complete makes an attempt we’ve seen to hyperlink the transmission planning course of with the interconnection course of and extra effectively assign interconnection prices,” mentioned David Gahl, government director of SI2. “That is what game-changing interconnection reform seems to be like in apply and different grid operators ought to look carefully at this proposal.”
This report builds on SI2’s 2024 report, “Game Changing Interconnection Reform,” that requires deeper coordination between regional planning and queue administration, together with a rethinking of cost-allocation with an “entry charge” mannequin. SI2 urges grid operators to combine long-term transmission planning with interconnection processes and undertake an “entry charge” construction to simplify prices and scale back danger for builders. SI2’s new evaluation particulars how SPP has operationalized this method and identifies key questions for implementation.
The necessity for extra interconnection reform stays pressing. Regardless of federal motion below FERC Order 2023, 2,300 GW of tasks stay caught in interconnection backlogs, almost twice the entire electrical capability working at this time in the USA. Photo voltaic and storage tasks make up 80% of this backlog, slowing progress on clear vitality deployment and rising prices for builders and American households and companies.
Synchronizing long-term transmission planning with interconnection after which creating a extra affordable charge construction that helps fund transmission construct out works to ensure venture completion and offering builders with the lengthy wanted predictability.
“Photo voltaic and storage proceed to ship aggressive, dependable energy and public assist stays sturdy,” Gahl mentioned. “Fixing interconnection is crucial to assembly rising vitality demand and making certain American households and companies have entry to reasonably priced clear vitality.”
Information merchandise from SI2
