With dozens of offshore wind projects in the pipeline, federal agencies, states and grid operators need to immediately begin collaborating to identify cost-effective transmission solutions, a report released by Brattle Group states
Brattle Group’s analysis finds that starting this collaborative planning process now will significantly reduce costs, reduce environmental and community impacts, increase grid reliability and make it possible to achieve climate and clean energy goals in a timely fashion.
Leveraging existing studies in the US and Europe, the study estimates that proactive transmission in the coming decades could save at least US$20Bn in transmission-related costs.
The study also states that collaboration in the next 2-3 decades could result in 60-70% fewer shore crossings and onshore transmissions upgrades; approximately 2,000 (50%) fewer miles of marine transmission cable installation; and more competitive procurement outcomes, increased consumer savings, enhanced reliability and grid resilience, and more timely investments in the local clean energy economy.
Brattle Group principal Johannes Pfeifenberger, the lead author of the study said, “There is no time to lose if we want to achieve any of these benefits. It requires that we start now to develop least-regrets transmission plans that can support states’ near-term offshore wind goals while simultaneously creating attractive transmission solutions to meet our long-term clean energy needs.”
Mr Pfeifenberger said doing so “will require unprecedented close co-ordination between states, federal agencies and regional grid operators, along with significant improvements to the generation interconnection and grid planning processes used today.”
The Biden administration has set a goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Simultaneously, 11 coastal states have already set procurement targets that exceed 50 GW through 2035 and over 75 GW by 2045.
Current processes mean it takes at least a decade to plan and build major new transmission lines. The report warns that without urgent, collaborative planning, consumers could face billions of dollars of added costs and increased impacts to coastal habitats and communities.
The study identifies hurdles to achieving cost-effective planning outcomes but provides a roadmap with recommendations to address these challenges. These include steps to enable multi-state co-ordination; taking advantage of available federal support and funding; standardisation of offshore transmission technologies; and improvements to the existing planning processes for onshore and offshore transmission facilities that can also address a broad range of needs beyond the offshore wind sector.
The report was prepared by The Brattle Group with contributions from DNV and input from an advisory panel of policy and industry experts. American Clean Power Association, the American Council on Renewable Energy, Clean Air Task Force, GridLab and the Natural Resources Defense Council commissioned the analysis.
The Offshore Wind Journal Conference will be held in London (UK), 7 February 2023. Use this link to access more information and to register your interest
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.