Power transmission and generation politics

Mitchell JohnstonCBE 555

10/27/2014

Transmission lines

• Billed/KWH– 3,600,000 J

• Power over T-lines in MWH

• 138 , 345,765 KV

FERC RTO ISO

American Transmission Company

• Started in 2001 (helped by WI act 204 in 19999)

• Consolidation– MG&E, Alliant Energy,

Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (Integrys Energy) and We Energies

• ~32 miles– $152 Million +

• Part of $4 Billion plan for T-lines

Guarantied Rate of Return

• Guarantied return of 12.2% on investment in WI, 9.15% outside WI– $18.24 Million return

for Beltline T-line

• Return rates started by FERC and then picked up by Gov. Thompson in 1999 (Act 204).

Sources Energy and Demand

• Last year needed 421,475.017 MW at any given second in the US.

• Sources– Coal– Natural Gas– Hydro– Nuclear – Wind – Solar

• Electricity Market is in 15 Min windows

• Federal contracts • Missing power output in

window results in $10,000 fine

Energy Use

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 201424

24.5

25

25.5

26

26.5

27

125000000

130000000

135000000

140000000

145000000

150000000

KWH / customerCustomers

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 20143300000

3350000

3400000

3450000

3500000

3550000

3600000

3650000

3700000

3750000

3800000

Year

in M

egaW

attho

urs

Hydro storage

Solar

• Max efficiency is about 45%

• 1 KW / meter^2 sunlight available

• Shading can become a issue

Installed Capacity

• Germany sets standards

Other Solar Cells

• Thin-Film Solar PV cells – Lower cost and

efficiency ~10%

• Transparent solar cell – 1% efficient – Researchers seeking 5%

efficiency

Growth of Solar

• Increased efficiency

• Decreased cost – Manufacturing – Power electronics

Wind

• Different designs– May or may not have

gearbox

• Limited to maximum efficiency of 60% from energy in air

0 5 10 15 20 250

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

9/7/2014 24 hour wind generation (-7)

MidcontientBonnevill PowerCalifornia

Hour

MW

H

• US has > 60 GW installed capacity at end of 2012 (21%)

Growth of wind

• Tax credits for wind offered at $.01 -.02/ KWH– Get upfront cash grants to accelerate process

• Decreasing cost of power electronics • Using power electronics to allow for variable

blade speed (modify TSR) increasing efficiency• Improving Capacity factor

Questions

Links• http://host.madison.com/business/biz_beat/atc-profits-nicely-as-it-keeps-the-lights-on/article_14b24c4a-e0cf-11e1-915d-0

01a4bcf887a.html

• http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/nr_newsletters/eis/201402_eis.authcheckdam.pdf• http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/ (Annual Energy Report)