The power
transmission grid today is in reality three separate high-voltage
electrical transmission grids. These grids cover the contiguous 48 states and
parts of Canada and Mexico and are known as the Western Interconnection, the
Eastern Interconnection, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
Interconnection. The three grids operate independently for the most part but
are connected in a few places by direct-current lines. All United States power
utilities, except those in the states of Alaska and Hawaii, are connected to
other power utilities through the national power grid. Dispatch centers
maintain and control the flow of electricity over the grid, supplying
electricity to meet the demand.
Little needs to be said about the
growing demand for ways in which use can be made of clean energy. The challenge
for any and all clean energy technology stakeholders, both those with the
solution and (in most cases) their willing prospects is that the energy
industry is heavily vertically integrated. In the US for example, 50% of the
power in 50% of cases comes from coal. Coal, it is estimated, accounts for 40%
of the World’s CO2. The resulting power is carried on a transmission
infrastructure from its source to near its point of delivery, where the power
flows into a smaller network. This distribution network delivers it for use.
Energy flows one way, information about the use of that energy, except how
much, is barely collected and any innovation has to meet monolithic
requirements, since it would have to offer a near replacement solution to some
part of the power grid. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that it would be possible to make wind 20-30% of the power mix for the East coast of the USA. But, not without dramatic changes in how the transmission grid operates. The findings of their study, published in January 2010 can be retrieved from here. For example, assuming the power were available for delivery to the eastern region, it would require cooperation between these 8 independent system operators. Something they have not historically been responsible for. Furthermore, as the report states, "a
20% wind scenario relies on a major national commitment to clean, domestic energy sources
with desirable environmental attributes. Furthermore, it is probable that to leverage the best sources of wind would require adding substantially to the existing transmission infrastructure.
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