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TVA, TC Energy to Invest $1.25 Million to Study Carbon Capture Technology

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

The Tennessee Valley Authority will work with TC Energy to jointly invest $1.25 million to study carbon capture technology to reduce emissions at TVA’s natural gas facilities in Ackerman, Mississippi, and in Drakesboro, Kentucky.

TVA said it is exploring a number of options to decarbonize its power grid, and the goal of the partnership is to conduct a feasibility study to determine the costs, technical challenges, and operational impacts of carbon capture technology. 

Information from this study will be used to assess future asset decisions for the TVA fleet. 

Carbon capture works by sending the exhaust from natural gas power facilities to a CO2 scrubber adjacent to the plant. A chemical reaction absorbs the CO2 before the exhaust is released into the air. 

The CO2 is then pumped to another vessel and treated with heat that releases the CO2. This released CO2 is compressed and sent deep into the earth for safe storage.

TC Energy offers solutions across a wide range of energy areas — from natural gas and renewables to carbon capture and hydrogen.

Other public power utilities are also pursuing carbon capture projects.

This summer, the U.S. Department of Energy announced funding for carbon capture projects that include projects involving Illinois public power utility Springfield City Water, Light and Power.

Ohio Company Begins Operation of Fully Digital Substation

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

One Energy Enterprises said it has begun operation of the first fully digital, plug-and-play, transmission-voltage substation in the United States.

The substation, at One Energy’s Findlay, Ohio, headquarters, is intended to power a Megawatt Hub and was built as proof of concept for the company’s new, fully digital station architecture.

The digital substation uses Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories’ TiDL system that connects it to the grid entirely by fiber optics, which simplifies the field wiring of the facility.

The substation’s 30-megavolt amp transformer was built by Hitachi Energy and includes a real-time dissolved gas analyzer and condition monitoring system that can detect an anomaly in the transformer and automatically send alerts via text to system operators.

The system performs a full dissolved gas analysis on the transformer every 10 minutes, compared with most substation transformers that only test oil once a year, One Energy said.

To enhance safety and resilience, One Energy said the substation is surrounded by permanent walls that are modular and made of solid concrete. To eliminate risks related to animal interference and blowing debris, the design has no exposed live parts on the medium voltage buswork, and the design also incorporates environmentally friendly oils and passive and automatic fire suppression systems, the company said.

One Power builds, owns, and operates behind-the-meter power systems and microgrids for industrial energy users. The company described its Megawatt Hubs as transmission-voltage-interconnected 30-megawatt to 150-MW sites that are ready for the energy-intensive industries of the future such as mobile data centers and commercial electric vehicle fleets.

In August, One Energy Enterprises said it intends to go public via a merger with TortoiseEcofin Acquisition Corp. III, a special purpose acquisition company. The public company will be called One Power.

SMUD, Optiwatt Expand Incentivized EV Charging Program

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

California public power utility SMUD and Optiwatt recently announced a partnership to expand SMUD’s existing electric vehicle charging pilot to include Tesla drivers and help meet increased energy demand as more Californians adopt electric vehicles.

Together, Optiwatt and SMUD are inviting Tesla owners across the Sacramento region to participate in the SMUD Managed EV Charging program, a test program which monitors, automates and manages customers’ EV charging needs in balance with grid demands.

Users are incentivized with a one-time $150 reward per vehicle after sign-up, as well as an ongoing $20 quarterly rebate for the duration of vehicle’s enrollment. All rewards are remitted directly through the Optiwatt platform, available via gift card, Venmo, Paypal or ACH deposit.

“Pairing Optiwatt’s application technology with SMUD’s distribution to more than 1.5 million customers, the Managed EV Charging program is an important step in ensuring the grid maintains long-term resilience during the influx of vehicle electrification,” SMUD said

The SMUD Managed EV Charging program supports Ford, GM, BMW and now Tesla, battery electric vehicles. Tesla vehicles are now supported by the Optiwatt application, while Ford, GM and BMW customers can sign up directly with the car manufacturers App.

To enroll, Tesla owners can download the free Optiwatt app, available on iOS, Android or on the web. Visit SMUD’s Managed EV Charging program page for more information.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Optiwatt is the largest telematics-based home energy analytics platform in North America.

DEMEC to Hold Ribbon Cutting Event for New Lineworker Training Yard

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation October 3 will host a ribbon cutting event celebrating the groundbreaking for its Joint Lineworker Training Yard.

The training yard will be the only one of its kind in Delaware, with phases planned for safety training related to climbing, transformers, substations, bucket trucks, meters, and more, DEMEC noted.

“This workforce development opportunity is available to DEMEC’s member utilities across the state to provide local, certified training for apprentice and journeyman lineworkers, bringing significant cost savings,” it said.

Invitees include:

Public Power Current reported on the training yard in 2021.

DEMEC is a joint action agency that represents eight power-producing Delaware towns and cities that serve 99,200 people. Members include Clayton, Dover, Lewes, Middletown, Newark, New Castle, Seaford and Smyrna.

NCMPA 1 Nears PPA Completion Tied to Sale of Capacity, Energy from Nuclear Plant

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 and Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc. are near completion of a purchase power agreement that will enable Central Electric Power Cooperative to purchase nuclear capacity and energy associated with a portion of NCMPA1’s ownership interest in the Catawba Nuclear Station.

Under the terms of the agreement, Central will receive 150 megawatts, totaling 18% of NCMPA1’s project output.

The agreement diversifies NCMPA1’s energy resource portfolio and provides wholesale electric rate savings to NCMPA1’s 19 member communities.

“This agreement is an important step in diversifying the energy portfolio for public power communities in the western part of the state and delivers significant wholesale electric rate savings to those communities,” said Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities, in a statement.

“The 19 unanimous city and town council votes are a strong reminder of the strength and partnership of those communities working together to set up public power for success now and far into the future,” he said.

The agreement would provide Central, a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with additional nuclear capacity to serve South Carolina’s 20 distribution cooperatives.

Completion of the agreement is subject to several conditions, including unanimous consent of all 19 NCMPA1 participant city and town councils.

As of Aug. 30, all 19 NCMPA1 participants voted to approve the agreement.

The ElectriCities Board of Directors and the NCMPA1 Board of Commissioners approved the agreement earlier this year.

The agreement is slated to go into effect January 1, 2024, and will continue through the term of the Catawba Nuclear Station, which is currently licensed through 2043.

The Catawba Nuclear Station, which consists of two identical units, is jointly owned by NCMPA1, Duke Energy Carolinas, Piedmont Municipal Power Agency, and the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, with NCMPA1 owning 75% of Catawba Unit 2.

NCMPA1 is made up of 19 participating cities and towns in piedmont and western North Carolina and provides wholesale power to those participants.

The 19 NCMPA1 participants are Albemarle, Bostic, Cherryville, Cornelius, Drexel, Gastonia, Granite Falls, High Point, Huntersville, Landis, Lexington, Lincolnton, Maiden, Monroe, Morganton, Newton, Pineville, Shelby, and Statesville.

Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Composite Pole Project Advances Reliability

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s ongoing efforts to improve grid reliability continued to advance with its composite pole project at 88% completion territorywide.

WAPA began the Composite Pole Project in 2017. The project is 90% funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Program, with a 10% match being provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Composite poles, made of advanced materials, “possess exceptional durability, withstanding extreme weather conditions, including high winds and corrosive environments and offer a host of advantages over traditional wooden poles,” the public power utility noted on Sept. 13.

They are also more resistant to rot, decay, and termite damage, ensuring longevity and significantly reducing maintenance costs for the Authority in the long-term.

In less densely populated areas, composite poles offer an advantage over undergrounding because installation typically involves easy replacement of an existing pole, whereas undergrounding involves extensive excavation and more lengthy construction times.

As part of the Composite Pole project, the Authority has subcontracted Barkley Technologies for project management and design support services, with RS Poles, PECO and Trident Industries supplying composite poles and AWG providing supplies hardware.

On St. Thomas and St. Croix, composite pole installation is being performed by Haugland VI, while on St. John BBC Electric performed installations.

On St. Croix a total of 3,351 composite poles have been installed, 81% of its total. while 2,330 composite poles have been installed on St. Thomas, 99% of its total. And 1,711 composite poles have been installed on St. John, 87% of its total. Water Island is at a 100% completion with 200 composite poles installed.

NYPA Expands Executive Leadership Team to Help Meet New York’s Energy Goals

September 15, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023

The New York Power Authority is expanding its executive leadership team to deliver on its clean energy mission, including new goals defined in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget, which outlines new legislation providing NYPA with expanded authority to develop, own, and operate renewable energy generating projects, NYPA said on Sept. 15.

The Power Authority “will be a key driver in assisting New York State in meeting its bold clean energy targets, including producing 70% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and creating a zero-emission statewide electrical system by 2040,” it said.

Daniella Piper, an internal leader and expert in power systems and digital technology, has been promoted to Chief Innovation Officer and Alexis Harley has been hired as Chief Risk and Resilience Officer.

“In their new roles, Daniella Piper and Alexis Harley will bring experience and new insights to our executive team and our organization as we fulfill our clean energy promise to the people of New York State,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll. “The new expanded authority legislation will allow us to further demonstrate the ingenuity and innovation that is part of the Power Authority’s DNA. I am excited to have Daniella and Alexis join my exceptional leadership team as we forge a clean energy path for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”

In Piper’s role as Chief Innovation Officer, she will coordinate the Power Authority’s strategic business goals, technology innovation, digitization, research and development efforts so that new technologies are developed, tested, socialized and implemented in support of the state’s clean energy targets.

Piper also will oversee a new Enterprise Innovation team that will serve as the incubator for new programs and ideas, “allowing NYPA to develop and deploy game-changing technologies and digital solutions that advance its efforts to create a thriving, resilient New York State powered by clean energy,” NYPA said.

Piper has more than 15 years of experience in the energy industry with a long history of success at the Power Authority, most recently serving as Western New York Regional Manager and Chief Transformation Officer.

She has been integral to some of the Power Authority’s key efforts, such as the successful construction of the Marcy South Series Compensation Project, NYPA’s 10-Point Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, and NYPA’s first Digital Transformation Office.

“Through her varied roles, including a previous post as Chief of Staff, she has developed a broad understanding of the Power Authority and excelled at working collaboratively with employees and external parties,” NYPA said.

In Harley’s role as Chief Risk and Resilience Officer, she will set the Power Authority’s strategic risk management and resilience vision and implement, oversee and monitor all risk management and resilience activities at NYPA.

She also will be responsible for determining NYPA’s risk tolerance and instituting associated strategic plans, including oversight of the Power Authority’s Sustainability team, which is responsible for the development and implementation of NYPA’s ESG strategy.

Harley has spent her entire career in the energy industry and comes to NYPA from National Grid.

She has extensive experience designing, implementing and leading enterprise risk management programs to protect people, assets and communities, while preserving value and adapting to new opportunities, NYPA said.

Three WAPA Divisions to Pursue Final Negotiations with the Southwest Power Pool

September 14, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 14, 2023

The Western Area Power Administration on Sept. 12 announced that its Colorado River Storage Project and Rocky Mountain region will pursue final negotiations toward full membership in the Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization.

WAPA’s Upper Great Plains region will pursue final negotiations to expand its participation in the SPP RTO in the Western Interconnection.

“Participating in this initiative to extend the SPP RTO into the West is consistent with WAPA’s commitment to develop alternative ways of doing business that retain and increase the value of the resource WAPA markets and the services it provides its customers in a dynamic energy industry,” WAPA said.

​WAPA said it remains committed to ensuring the organization and its customers “stay well-positioned to deliver on our mission to safely provide reliable, cost-based hydropower and transmission to our customers and the communities we serve.”

WAPA and other utilities partnering with SPP would expand the availability of resources and coordination within the RTO and enhance access to its services, which include day-ahead wholesale electricity market administration, transmission planning, reliability coordination and resource adequacy.

Alongside WAPA, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Colorado Springs Utilities, Deseret Generation & Transmission Cooperative, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, Platte River Power Authority and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, should they choose, would also participate in SPP’s Integrated Marketplace in the Western Interconnection.

Participation in the SPP RTO in the West is expected to provide operational and reliability benefits along with enhanced transmission planning and development mechanisms.

A study commissioned by SPP and conducted by the Brattle Group found that participants’ membership in the SPP RTO would produce approximately $49 million in savings annually for current and new members. This is in addition to the expected reliability and transmission benefits.

DOE Report Addresses Integrating Virtual Power Plants Into The Grid

September 14, 2023

by Peter Maloney
APPA News
September 14, 2023

Tripling the current scale of virtual power plants by 2030 could support rapid electrification as electricity demand grows for the first time in a decade, but limited integration of VPPs has inhibited growth, according to a new report from the Department of Energy.

The report, Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Virtual Power Plants, noted that between 2023 and 2030, the United States will need to add enough new power generation capacity to supply over 200 gigawatts of peak demand and, if the country were to follow a path towards 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, new capacity needs could nearly double.

In that scenario, deploying 80 to 160 GW of virtual power plants by 2030 to help address national capacity needs by contributing approximately 10 to 20 percent of peak demand and save around $10 billion in annual grid costs and direct grid spending back to electricity consumers, the report said.

The report also noted that distributed energy resources that could be enrolled in VPP programs is growing at an accelerating rate, with electric vehicles representing the vast majority of that growth. Each year from 2025 to 2030, the grid is expected to add 20 to 90 GW of nameplate storage capacity from electric vehicle batteries, 5 to 6 GW of flexible demand from smart thermostats, smart water heaters, and non-residential distributed energy resources, 20 to 35 GW of nameplate generation capacity from distributed solar and fuel-based generators, and 7 to 24 gigawatt hours of nameplate storage capacity from stationary batteries, the report said.

Nonetheless, integration of VPPs into electricity system planning, operations, and market participation has been inhibited because regulation-driven grid planning requirements and cost-benefit assessments undervalue the potential benefits of VPPs in most jurisdictions, the report said, adding that while protocols for VPP planning, operations, and valuation that are necessary for VPP integration have emerged, they vary by service provider and jurisdiction.

The result, the report’s authors said, is “a lack of confidence in the dependability of VPPs among utilities, which has in turn led to many years of collecting data with pilots that – despite their success – have yet to scale up.”

Calling it “an urgent call to action” the DOE said the report is meant to initiate and organize a dialogue between the DOE, other public sector leaders, and the private sector to chart the path forward, including progress on five imperatives.

Those imperatives are:

Company Unveils Plans for 200-MW Energy Storage Project in Southern California

September 14, 2023

by Peter Maloney
APPA News
September 14, 2023

LS Energy Solutions plans to deploy a 200-megawatt, 400-megawatt hour energy storage project in Southern California.

Gore Street Energy Storage Fund plans to use the electrical output of the storage project to provide resource adequacy and ancillary services to the California Independent System Operator market.

Avantus, which originally developed the Big Rock storage project in Imperial County, in February sold it to London-based Gore Street Energy Storage Fund, which is managed by Gore Street Capital.

Big Rock will be operated at 100 MW of deliverability to supply 400 MWh and meet the four-hour discharge needs of a resource adequacy contract, contributing to the available capacity and reserves needed by CAISO to maintain supply and demand in real time, LS Energy Solutions said in a statement.

“The remaining 100 MW not immediately reserved for RA will be directed towards the growing ancillary services and wholesale trading opportunities available to energy storage systems in California,” said David Pratt, communications officer for Gore Street Capital.  

LS Energy Solutions said construction on the Big Rock project is expected to begin soon with the facility coming online in the second half of 2024.

The Big Rock project calls for the deployment of 137 AiON-ESS energy storage units that are being provided by LS Energy Solutions. Each AiON-ESS container has a power rating of 1.5 MW and can store 3.5 MWh. Along with tier-1 lithium-ion batteries, the 137 containers also include over 1,300 of LS Energy Solutions’ modular 140-kilovolt amp AiON-SIS string inverters.

In addition to supplying the AiON-ESS energy storage containers, LS Energy Solutions said it would also provide commissioning support and operational services, including extended warranty, preventative maintenance, capacity maintenance and system remote monitoring for the life of the project.

The Big Rock project will be one of the largest energy storage projects in Imperial County, LS Energy Solutions said.

In July, the California Independent System Operator said total battery storage on its grid had increased to 5,600 MW from about 500 MW three years ago. CAISO attributed to the rapid increase in energy storage to a series of storage procurement orders authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission requiring regulated utilities to add storage to their portfolios.

The increase in energy storage capability “has significantly improved our ability to manage through challenging grid conditions,” Elliot Mainzer, CAISO’s president and CEO, said at the time.