IEEE Power and Energy Magazine · 2009 · 42 citations · 0 references
PlanningInfrastructure PlanningRegional PlanningCapacity PlanningEnergy SystemsRenewable Energy IntegrationInfrastructure IntegrationPower Grid AnalysisPower Sector EconomicsPower Transmission SystemsTransmission PlanningTransmission SystemsEconomic PlanningElectric Power Grid PlanningElectric Transmission PlanningPower System PlanningRenewable Integration PlanningTransmission ProcessesTransmission System ExpansionTransmission System Reliability
The challenge of integrating large amounts of renewable energy resources into the electric sector requires updated transmission analysis techniques. Economic planning, primarily in the form of value-based planning over interconnection-wide areas, is needed before performing the traditional single-hour, capacity-based reliability analyses. This article looks at the transmission planning processes of leading organizations from various sectors - regional transmission organizations (RTOs), investor-owned utilities, and regional organizations-within the United States to illustrate what changes to the traditional transmission planning process are required to meet the present challenges.