Grid Security & Reliability
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Deep DiveCalifornia energy players fear isolation, reliability impacts as SPP eyes Western market expansion
Experts in California worry that as the Southwest Power Pool's energy market proposals move forward, California could lose access to renewable energy resources that are critical to the state’s grid.
By Kavya Balaraman • May 30, 2023 -
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OpinionCanada’s pipeline hack was a warning. Here’s why we need AI to protect our energy infrastructure.
Artificial intelligence can keep atop of cybersecurity maintenance by providing real-time, autonomous protection against the likes of zero-day threats, which exploit bugs or access in software.
By Dj Das • May 30, 2023 -
Trendline
Grid Resiliency
Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
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Sponsored by Alert EnterpriseThe superhero utilities desperately need: AI-powered cyber-physical security
As technology advances, so do attacks on substations and grid infrastructures. But a solution to outsmart attackers is making headway as more and more utility companies create a united front across their own IT, OT and physical security systems—with a little help from AI.
May 30, 2023 -
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US electrical steel shortage threatens energy transition, recovery from power outages, groups warn Biden
Electric utilities and other stakeholders have asked President Joe Biden to convene an “Electrical Steel Summit” with manufacturers to address the “supply chain crisis.”
By Robert Walton • May 24, 2023 -
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DOE pilots information-sharing effort with private industry to bolster energy sector cybersecurity
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy testified how sector agencies are responding to rising threats.
By David Jones • May 22, 2023 -
adobe.com/24K-Production
Sponsored by ev.energySummer blackouts: How electric vehicles can become part of the solution
Meet the utilities transforming EVs into grid assets.
By Joseph Vellone, Head of North America, ev.energy • May 22, 2023 -
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FERC summer reliability assessment finds bright spots: low gas prices, reduced drought, more generation
“There's some good news here,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Acting Chairman Willie Phillips said Thursday. “I think we're seeing things trending in the right direction over last year.”
By Ethan Howland • May 19, 2023 -
OpinionRTOs may be ‘sick’ but weren’t designed to manage a huge transition of US generation. Here’s how to help.
RTOs provide great value in operating the electric system every day, but they struggle with their role in the massive undertaking and challenge of managing a wholesale overhaul of that system.
By Matt King and John Chiles • May 19, 2023 -
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NERC urges power plant, transmission owners to prepare for winter in highest-level alert ever issued
The “essential actions” alert issued Monday follows several winters when power plants failed to run in cold weather, hurting grid reliability.
By Ethan Howland • May 16, 2023 -
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PJM proposes incentives for ‘black start’ units with assured fuel supplies to speed outage recovery times
Nearly half of the PJM Interconnection’s black start units lack firm fuel supplies, threatening to extend major power outages, the grid operator told federal regulators Friday.
By Ethan Howland • May 15, 2023 -
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NERC recommends including cyberattack scenarios now absent in most transmission planning assessments
The potential for a coordinated cyberattack to impact the bulk power system “is not currently or generally studied as part of standard industry practices,” according to a white paper NERC published this month.
By Robert Walton • May 15, 2023 -
OpinionHow PJM, America’s biggest grid operator, got its reliability report wrong
In reaching its most dire predictions, the report ignores how the Inflation Reduction Act that is expected to change the investment environment for wind, solar and energy storage would boost new capacity entry.
By Casey Roberts • May 12, 2023 -
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DOE directs $26M to PG&E, ConEd and other projects testing how clean energy can support a resilient grid
The Department of Energy announced it will offer $26 million for projects “to demonstrate how solar, wind, storage and other clean energy resources can support a reliable and efficient U.S. power grid.”
By Diana DiGangi • May 11, 2023 -
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Arizona Corporation Commission explores standardized cybersecurity assessments, workforce development
Utility partnerships with academia can boost the security workforce, including through the use of residencies and apprenticeships, said Idaho National Laboratory Department Manager Ralph Ley.
By Robert Walton • May 10, 2023 -
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Texas House weighs Senate-approved plan to incentivize new gas plants as grid faces dicey summer
The legislation would create a state-backed fund to offer zero-interest, 20-year loans to companies building primarily gas-fired power plants.
By Robert Walton • May 9, 2023 -
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PNM proposes non-wires battery pilot to address overloaded feeders at solar facilities
The pair of 6 MW battery resources “matches the lowest cost option for solving the overloaded feeders,” PNM Resources President and Chief Operating Officer Don Tarry said.
By Robert Walton • May 8, 2023 -
Permission granted by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
Sponsored by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.Why contracts among cooperative G&T owners ensure equity and fairness
Central to the success of the cooperative G&T model are the promises each member makes to work together with their fellow members to secure a reliable, affordable and responsible power supply for the communities they together serve.
By Dave Frick, General Manager, Morgan County Rural Electric Association • May 8, 2023 -
Permission granted by Eagle Eye Power Solutions
Sponsored by Eagle Eye Power Solutions10 reasons why investing in a battery monitoring pilot program is essential
Discover why investing in a pilot BMS program is not only a good idea; it is imperative.
By Eagle Eye Power Solutions • May 8, 2023 -
Courtesy of Arizona Public Service
VPPs provide same resource adequacy as gas peakers, large batteries, at up to 60% less cost: study
The study, conducted by The Brattle Group and funded by Google, found that virtual power plants could save consumers billions and are just as dependable as more traditional means of resource adequacy.
By Patrick Cooley • May 5, 2023 -
Retrieved from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
FERC commissioners tell senators of major grid reliability challenges, with some blaming markets
Power plants are retiring faster than they’re being replaced, according to FERC Commissioner Mark Christie. “The arithmetic doesn’t work,” he said at a Senate hearing Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • May 5, 2023 -
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Dominion Energy projects adding up to 9 GW of gas-fired capacity in Virginia to bolster reliability
The plan, filed Monday with state utility regulators, calls for adding more natural gas and renewables to Dominion’s portfolio, along with up to 4.2 GW of small modular reactors.
By Diana DiGangi • May 4, 2023 -
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Southwest Power Pool study could inform Texas efforts to shore up reliability: PUCT commissioner
A Southwest Power Pool working group is studying development of a reliability standard based on expected unserved energy, with varied requirements for at least two different seasons.
By Robert Walton • May 1, 2023 -
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California regulators approve PG&E, Energy Vault green hydrogen and battery microgrid
The microgrid’s planned use of green hydrogen fuel cells and batteries marks a departure from PG&E’s earlier practice of using diesel generators for backup power during outages.
By Kavya Balaraman • May 1, 2023 -
Permission granted by Burns & McDonnell
Sponsored by Burns & McDonnellLet’s not forget about how renewables will impact the distribution grid
As many more zero-carbon generation sources connect to the grid, the urgency of grid modernization programs will continue to increase. Discover how the rise of renewables will drive the need for upgrades on our distribution systems.
By Luke Ezell, PE, Account Manager, Burns & McDonnell • May 1, 2023 -
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Extreme weather risks should be considered in transmission planning, SPP concludes, after Elliott review
A review of the Southwest Power Pool’s response to Winter Storm Elliott in 2022 found room for improvement in areas of operations, transmission planning, communications and compliance.
By Robert Walton • April 28, 2023
