Utility Automation & Engineering T&D - NERC: Current climate change initiatives may threaten reliability

Princeton, NJ, Nov. 12, 2008 -- A new study from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) indicates that certain climate change initiatives may be a threat to reliability.

"We are concerned that, when viewed from a continent-wide perspective, current climate initiatives do not adequately address key reliability objectives, particularly the need for a strong and robust transmission system," commented Rick Sergel, president and CEO of NERC. "As we consider our energy future, it becomes increasingly clear that our success in reducing carbon emissions and realizing energy independence will hinge on our ability to provide reliable, clean, electricity where and when it is needed."

The report, titled "Special Report on Electric Industry Concerns on Reliability Impacts of Climate Change Initiatives," identifies several key reliability issues associated with climate change initiatives that will need to be addressed as these policies progress:

Coal-fired generation currently provides approximately 50 percent of North America's electric capacity. Retirements of coal-fired plants over a short timeline could result in the loss of generation needed to support the integrity of the bulk power system and thus severely impact reliability across the continent, especially in those regions heavily dependent on the fuel. The broad-scale replacement and relocation of generating plants from current coal sites to sites that would be suitable for new or expanded natural gas-fired plants would require significant upgrades to existing transmission infrastructure.

The existing bulk transmission network is inadequate to reliably deliver power from new renewable resources to demand centers. Innovative planning and operational mechanisms will be needed as states and provinces attempt to deliver "clean energy" over already heavily-loaded transmission lines to meet renewable portfolio standard requirements.

Managing growing demand will be critical to meeting both climate and reliability goals, making demand-side resources a critical component of the resource mix. "Dispatchable" demand response will be particularly important as it adds needed system flexibility and supports the integration of new variable generation such as wind power.

A decision on national climate change policy is needed in the U.S. to provide regulatory certainty and support for industry action. Any delay, said NERC, on such policy is negatively impacting both reliability and climate objectives.

The Special Report on Electric Industry Concerns on Reliability Impacts of Climate Change Initiatives is available here (pdf).

Want to stay Current? Listen to Currents: The Energy News Podcast brought to you by Utility Automation & Engineering T&D and Electric Light & Power online. For a list of all available episodes, click here and start listening today. And for more news and exclusive features from Utility Automation & Engineering T&D and Electric Light & Power online, please click here.

Add RSS Feed