Transmission Professionals Group
The Transmission Professionals special interest group covers the distribution of power from generation to final destination.
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High Voltage DC Interconnections can be the backbone to interconnect Eastern, Western and Texas regions
If US DOE and Congress is serious about renewable interconnections and the need for a macro-grid, then, let's see a plan to interconnect the 3 regions that are largely being left alone until this point in time - Eastern, Western, and Texas interconnections. A lot of ideas and plans are hinting at interconnecting the 3 interconnections, but none are tying all the three grids together.
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) is economical when connecting 2 points over large distances. This is not a HVAC solution. If we have a backbone system in the Midwest starting with MISO in Minnesota and following the interstate 35, that HVDC system can connect ERCOT to MISO via SPP. Yes, we must tackle cost allocation across 2 FERC jurisdictional RTOs (MISO and SPP) and a non-FERC RTO - ERCOT. Talk about "bipartisan" support.
Similarly, if we take the west region and drop 2 HVDC connections that strongly tie CAISO and Western EIM - that should provide a market for Midwest wind in Western regions, and vice-versa - Western solar a market in the Midwest.
Additionally, tying this Midwest backbone to PJM and Southeast EIM should add the market for PJM and RTOs east of PJM - NYISO and ISO-NE. Similarly, the southeast will find a market in the Midwest via the backbone.
Inter-regional projects should become the norm. DOE and Congress should leverage what FERC RTOs have - regional planning efforts. It is time to think big!
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