Longtime Slashdot reader Bishop Berkeley writes: It's not all that surprising, but it's a new study. IEEE spectrum It delves into how corporate profit motives are hindering upgrades and expansion of the U.S. power grid.The full report can be downloaded from source here [the nonprofit economic research group NBER].
In addition to opening the market to competition, utilities do not want to lose control of local infrastructure, they wrote. IEEE spectrum. ”[I]Interregional transmission lines threaten power companies' control over the nation's electricity supply. In the electricity industry, asset ownership allows control of the rules that govern energy markets, transmission services, and expansion. When startups build power plants and transmission lines, they could reduce power companies' control over industry rules and prevent them from dictating decisions about transmission expansion. ”
The article begins by saying, “The United States is not building enough transmission lines to connect regional power grids. Deficits are driving up power prices, reducing grid reliability, and hindering the deployment of renewable energy.'' “It has said.
Outdated laws give utilities broad control over transmission development, which could stall their transmission expansion. One of the main values of connecting regional networks is that it enables, and indeed is essential to, the deployment of renewable energy. Additionally, adding interregional transmission of renewable energy can significantly reduce costs for consumers. Such connections allow surplus wind and solar power to flow to neighboring regions when weather conditions are favorable, or to import energy from other regions when renewable energy productivity is low. becomes possible.
Even in the absence of renewable energy, better integrated networks generally reduce costs for consumers by reducing the overall generation capacity needed and lowering energy market prices. Interregional transmission also improves reliability, especially during extreme weather…
Addressing power transmission shortages is on the agenda in Washington, but power companies are lobbying against reform.
The article notes that investors and entrepreneurs are currently working to “develop long-distance DC transmission lines that can efficiently transport large amounts of energy over long distances compared to AC” and “avoid utility-led transmission expansion.” “I am doing it,” he points out. planning process. ”
These are already used in China and are becoming the preferred choice in Europe as well…
