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Breaking the Gridlock and Averting Blackouts: Key Technologies and Policy Recommendations

Breaking the Gridlock and Averting Blackouts: Key Technologies and Policy Recommendations Massachusetts Restructuring Roundtable Boston, MA September 19, 2003. Breaking the Gridlock and Averting Blackouts: Key Steps.

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Breaking the Gridlock and Averting Blackouts: Key Technologies and Policy Recommendations

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  1. Breaking the Gridlock and Averting Blackouts: Key Technologies and Policy Recommendations Massachusetts Restructuring Roundtable Boston, MA September 19, 2003

  2. Breaking the Gridlock and Averting Blackouts:Key Steps • Recognize the role of the grid and the limits of DG. Grid investment and innovation must be supported! • Improved industry / policy understanding of the unique (“reactive power”) requirements of AC Grids • Near-term solution: dynamic reactive power equipment (STATCOM, D-VAR, SuperVAR etc.) • Longer-term: new approaches to control AC power flows with controllable “VLI” superconductor cable • “Islands and Bridges:” Should our grid be redesigned with more DC transmission to reduce the threat of blackouts from regional reactive power imbalances?

  3. The Grid is Overstressed – and While Distributed Generation Can Help, It Is Not “The” Solution! • Increased demands on the same grid infrastructure means, in effect, “too many cars – and not enough lanes” • Distributed generation can actually compound the reliability problem by raising fault current levels • For DG’s role to expand, system-level issues must be addressed (e.g., single fuel dependency, access to remotely located renewable energy resources) • “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” (-- Yogi Berra) • We don’t know what the future fuel mix will be – but we can predict energy use will be electrified. Therefore the grid must be robust enough to handle power flows under a wide range of scenarios!

  4. GDP Remains a Close Function of Power Use 1950 1975 2000 Data Sources: kwh: Energy Info Administration GDP: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis We are becoming more energy-efficient -- yet more electricity-intensive!

  5. What’s Needed: Public Policies to Support Development of a 21st Century Grid That Is... Strong… and Flexible Smart…

  6. Without reactive power, real power can’t get the work done! Reactive Power and Real Power:Balance is Critical This is reactive power. This is real power!

  7. Too little – or too much – reactive power makes it impossible to apply real power Reactive Power and Real Power:Balance is Critical

  8. Low-Environmental-Impact Strategies to Strengthen the Power Grid • Dynamic Reactive Power Support -- “D-VAR” – “Shock Absorbers” for the Power Grid • SuperVAR Synchronous Condenser • Controllable VLI (Very Low Impedance) Superconductor Cable • DC Transmission – a new vision of “Islands and Bridges” to block the propagation of disturbances across broad regions

  9. What are D-VAR Devices? Dynamic VARs… Fully Integrated Statcom with proprietary 3X overload Instantaneously injects precise amounts of reactive power into a network Optional real power with SMES energy storage D-VAR mitigates wide variety of voltage and power quality related transmission problems D-VAR Technology Description

  10. Dynamic VAR (D-VARTM) Power Quality Industrial Voltage Restorer (PQ-IVRTM) Distributed SMES (D-SMES) Customized solutions for grid reliability and industrial power quality Dynamic Reactive Power Support:“Shock Absorbers” for the Power Grid

  11. A form of “distributed transmission” to boost grid reliability and power transfer Dynamic Reactive Power Support:“Shock Absorbers” for the Power Grid Wisconsin Public Service 200 MW Grid 100 miles

  12. Typical D-VAR device Highly Mobile… Scalable… Easy to Install... Self Contained… Typical installation takes less than 1 week!

  13. HTS Rotating Machines:A Rapidly Developing Field • 5,000 hp HTS Industrial Motor • AMSC Self Funded Technical Development Project • Built and Tested in 2000 – 2001 • 7,000 hp peak load, 5,900 hp steady state • 5 MW HTS Propulsion Motor • AMSC Navy Contract Awarded February 2002 • Delivered to U.S. Navy in July 2003 • 10X torque of 5,000 hp motor • 36.5 MW HTS Propulsion Motor • AMSC Navy Competitive Contract Award February 2003 • Sized for DD(X) Class Warship Design • All U.S. Team • 13X Torque of 5 MW Motor

  14. SuperVAR™ Synchronous Condenser: Product Design Leverages Existing Technologies • Takes advantage of HTS Machine Technology base already developed • AMSC 5000HP motor project supports HTS Coil Performance at 1800 rpm operating speed • 5 MW Navy Program Experience Supports Torque Transfer and Exciter Design • Maximize Utilization of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) components • Stator – standard, air-cooled, iron core stator • Cooling components utilize MRI technology • Commercially available journal bearings and oil system • Designed for Manufacturability

  15. SuperVAR Synchronous Condenser:A New Grid Reliability Solution in Fall 2003 • Contract Awarded on January 29, 2003. • Factory Testing starts in October 2003. • TVA testing at Hoeganaes Steel Plant near Nashville, TN with a commissioning date of November 12, 2003. • TVA has ordered 5 commercial production units rated 10 MVA at 13.8 kV for delivery in 2005.

  16. TM SuperVAR Absorbing Generating VARS VARS 1 VARS ( Per Unit) Conventional Machine 1 2 3 Field Current (Per Unit) SuperVAR™ makes the synchronous condenser an outstanding grid reliability solution SuperVAR™ Synchronous Condenser:Summary of Product Benefits • HTS SuperVARTM will deliver 100% of its rating in both lagging and leading MVARS • HTS SuperVAR will: • Deliver 6.5x fault current for up to first 5 cycles during a terminal short-circuit • Delivers up to 2 pu overload for 1 minute during a prolonged voltage depression SuperVAR 10 Conventional 5 Fault Current (pu) 0 -5 -10

  17. Principal HTS Cable Designs --Single Phase vs. Coaxial Very Low Impedance • All HTS Cables offer high power density advantages • HTS Cable architectures vary according to purpose Single Phase Coaxial VLI • Single layer of HTS wire • Retrofit installations -- • Urban distribution • Low resistance & losses • Inductance = conventional • EMF = conventional • Demonstrated to 115 kV • Two layers of HTS wire • New installations -- • Urban & regional transmission • Very low resistance • Very low inductance • Zero EMF; compact 3-in-1 design • Demonstrated to 69 kV class

  18. Comparison of Cable Technologies 345 kV 230 kV 138 kV 69 kV 34.5 kV XLPE XLPE HTS - VLI XLPE HTS - VLI XLPE HTS - VLI XLPE 0 25 75 50 100 150 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Power Capacity (AC – 3ΦMVA) Increase Capacity without the Need to Increase Operating Voltage

  19. Grid Impacts of VLI Cables • Significantly Lower Impedance Characteristics of HTS Cables Allow Utilities to Redistribute Power Flows within a Networked System • Reduced reactive power losses provide more uniform voltage profile across the transmission network • Effective electrical distances are significantly shortened • Total efficiency higher than Al or Cu based systems when operated at high loads Up to 20x Less Impedance Compared to Overhead

  20. 20 mile 138 kV VLI Cable 800-900 MVA To LIPA Load Center - 10 Miles To New Jersey Power Plant HTS VLI Cable Solution to a DC Cable Project Case: 138 kV cable project from NJ power plant to NYC to Long Island is an alternate to DC project • Results: • DC control obtained with an AC VLI cable • Multiple interconnect points increased flexibility • Saves $200M on converter stations and real estate

  21. Benefits of VLI Cable:Financial & Economic, Environmental, Policy Financial & Economic • Lower voltages, shorter lengths because of controllability • A new strategy for life extension / improved asset utilization of existing, aging T&D systems • Enhanced generator dispatch -- reduced regional grid congestion costs Environmental • Underground placement, shorter lengths, lower voltages and elimination of EMF make for a “least environmental impact” transmission solution Policy Implications • More robust competition, improved reliability, enhanced air quality and easier transmission siting

  22. NERC Regional Interconnections “Islands and Bridges”: Should We Have More Interconnections?

  23. FL Smaller, Asynchronous Areas (Like Texas) Might Isolate Disturbances More Effectively WA MT ME OR ND VT MN NH MA NY ID WI SD RI CT MI IA WY NE NJ PA IL DE OH NV IN MO MD KS UT WV CA VA CO KY OK NC AZ TN AR NM SC GA AL MS TX Note: Boundaries shown are purely illustrative (could match NERC regions, RTO, state or other natural boundaries) LA

  24. FL Market Forces Can Drive Investment in Controllable DC “Bridges” Between Grids WA MT ME OR ND VT MN NH MA NY ID WI SD RI CT MI IA WY NE NJ PA IL DE OH NV IN MO MD KS UT WV CA VA CO KY OK NC AZ TN AR NM SC GA AL MS TX Note: Market Forces Could Determine the Number, Size and Location of Regional Interconnections LA

  25. “Islands and Bridges” – a “Unified Field Theory” of Electric Restructuring? • Improved Reliability – Contains Disturbances Within a Single Synchronous Grid • Enhanced Competition – Market Forces Determine the Number & Size of DC Connections at the Cross-Border “Seams” • Enhanced Regulatory Oversight – Supports Formation of Regional Planning Boards • Reduced Environmental Impacts – Compact Corridors, No EMF, Possibility of Underground Placement of Cables

  26. What’s Needed: Public Policies to Support Development of a 21st Century Grid That Is... Strong… and Flexible Smart…

  27. American Superconductor Corporation Thank You! Questions? jhowe@amsuper.com www.amsuper.com

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