New Report Outlines Recommendations for Transformative National Transmission Plan

Energy Systems Integration Group Releases “Transmission Planning for 100% Clean Electricity” White Paper

Reston, Va. – Today, the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG), the leading source of global expertise for energy systems integration and operations, published a new report, “Transmission Planning for 100% Clean Electricity,” focused on the critical need for national-level transmission planning and implementation in order to decarbonize the electricity system.

Over a two-month period, ESIG convened more than 50 power systems experts, who analyzed key research studies investigating energy sector decarbonization. The white paper is the culmination of the group’s effort in developing a conceptual design for reaching America’s clean energy goals using proactive transmission planning and development.

“We were fortunate to bring together the top thought leaders on clean energy for this report and their recommendations and the research is clear, we need a national plan for transmission to decarbonize the economy,” says Aaron Bloom, Chair of ESIG’s System Planning Working Group. “Transmission doesn’t make 100% clean electricity possible; transmission makes 100% clean electricity easier.”

The complementary recommendations defined by the group for decarbonizing the electricity system, and ultimately the economy, are:

• National transmission planning: The United States should establish a national transmission planning authority and initiate an ongoing national transmission planning process.
   
• Renewable energy zones: The United States should designate renewable energy zones for the development of wind, solar, and distributed energy resources to provide guidance on where transmission will be needed.
   
• Macro grid design: The United States should develop and implement a national transmission plan that includes a network of multiregional high-voltage transmission that unites the country’s power systems.

“To achieve our clean energy goals in the fastest and most cost-efficient manner—while also helping to facilitate the development of this critical infrastructure—there are important areas that the Biden administration can focus on to make progress,” said Phil Moeller, Executive Vice President, Business Operations Group and Regulatory Affairs, Edison Electric Institute. “First and foremost, we need to take a more holistic view of transmission system needs and work to improve policies and processes to evaluate and promote the development of cost-effective interregional, multi-regional, or cross-interconnection transmission facilities.”

ESIG’s macro grid design addresses both clean energy production and transmission in light of the nation’s need for affordable, rapid decarbonization. This macro grid will enable a national market for all clean energy sources and will use proven transmission technologies for a no-regrets solution in order to scale up the clean generation resources that are essential to meet these goals.

“If you want to go to the moon, you need a space program. If you want to reach 100% clean electricity, you need a transmission plan,” adds Bloom.

To learn more about the report and the group’s recommendations, a complimentary webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). More information on the webinar, including how to register, can be found here: https://www.esig.energy/event/webinar-transmission-planning-for-100-clean-electricity/.

Click here to download the full report.

About Energy Systems Integration Group
ESIG began in 1989 as the Utility Wind Interest Group, an organization created to educate utilities about wind power. Within ten years, it developed into a significant technical educational organization and convener of peer-to-peer workshops to assist utilities, system operators, project developers and equipment manufacturers from around the world with the integration of wind power, and then by 2011, also with the integration of solar power. With renewables becoming the mainstream sources of new generation and reliability services, the organization expanded its mission, branding and international participation in 2018 through a merger with the International Institute of Energy Systems Integration (IIESI) to become the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG), taking on not just the planning and operations of electricity systems and power markets, but also the growing issues for other energy vectors, including the electrification of transportation, buildings and industry for decarbonizing the entire energy supply.

ESIG now serves as a resource for a broad cross-section of the global energy industry, including utilities, ISOs, independent power producers, project developers, manufacturers, forecasters, consultants, educational institutions, and government agencies, including regulatory bodies.

For more information on ESIG, visit www.esig.energy