NAE Section 6 and NERC Report – Energy Adequacy is Key Component in Grid Planning
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Section 6 (Electric Power/Energy Systems) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) have published a report, Evolving Planning Criteria for a Sustainable Power Grid (also available on NERC's website), on electric reliability criteria for grid planning. The report summarizes the proceedings and actionable recommendations from a co-sponsored NAE Section 6 and NERC workshop held earlier this year. During that engagement, participants examined electric reliability criteria for planning resource and transmission adequacy on the transforming grid and focused on two broad topics: capacity vs. energy and planning the transforming transmission grid.
"There is little doubt that our dependence on electricity as the engine of our economy is increasing at a rapid pace," said Mark Lauby, NERC's senior vice president and chief engineer. "As the grid transforms, it is imperative that traditional planning criteria evolve to reflect a new reality in which energy adequacy becomes a critical complementary consideration of resource adequacy when addressing overall system reliability."
The report identifies nine actionable topic areas that collectively form an improved approach to resource adequacy. The associated long-term recommendations include continuing the evolution of resource adequacy criterion; collecting quality data; building composite plans across the interconnections; tracking demand increases resulting from electrification; developing extreme scenarios; finding ways to increase transfer capacity; improving coordination of transmission with distribution; and improving benchmarking metrics to enhance the energy adequacy assessment process.
"The Power and Energy Section of the National Academy of Engineering has been concerned about maintaining the reliability of the power grid while it undergoes rapid changes to make it more sustainable," said Anjan Bose, Regents Professor, Washington State University. "We are excited to partner with NERC on this workshop that has recommended changes to the grid planning process and new analytics to ensure resource and transmission adequacy.
This report complements NAE's Creating the Sustainable National Electric Infrastructure While Maintaining the Reliability and Resiliency of the Grid report, which was the outcome of a previous workshop. NERC will continue to collaborate with industry and groups like NAE Section 6 to further the insights from the workshop discussions that support progress toward a more reliable, resilient and secure bulk power system across North America.
Source: North American Electric Reliability Corporation
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