I was involved in various CPUC regulatory proceedings on these maps and made the same kinds of comments frequently. Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox. Here are a few upgrades you can implement to help you get started: Airflow management - Reduce energy use up to 20% by preventing cool supply air from mixing with the hot air released from IT equipment. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Here's where these maps live: Pacific Gas & Electric's (PG&E) Grid Needs Assessment (GNA) maps Minnesota solar companies filed 129 interconnection complaints in 2019. Your contributions support local solutions. Modeling experts could determine what those additional checks should be, the paper says. As a result, the smaller 200 kWac project was told that the substation was full, and that it would have to share a roughly $650,000 upgrade cost, potentially delaying the project until the upgrades were complete. For the Stage 2 displays, each circuit's hosting capacity is determined by evaluating the potential power system criteria violations as a result of large PV solar systems with an AC nameplate rating starting at and gradually increasing from 300 kW interconnecting to three phase distribution lines. What this does indicate is that a densely populated community like Oak Park would most likely have to get the majority of its solar and renewable electricity from outside its boundaries to reach the statewide RPS goal of 25%. However, ILSR feels there are three issues worth addressing in this docket: 1) Xcel slows the adoption of cost-effective distributed generation, 2) Xcel has not fulfilled the requirements outlined in the Public Utility Commissions July 2020 Order, and 3) Xcel could do more to advance toward the ultimate goal: delivering its customers more cost-effective clean energy by integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. 4 0 obj This data can be accessed by selecting a feeder or network on the mapping display and advancing to the associated data pane. More articles from John Fitzgerald Weaver. Computer Room Air Conditioning Unit (CRAC) - Older equipment can cost your facility more money on energy costs and maintenance. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and similar chain dollar stores are targeting vulnerable communities across the US. Geneva, NY Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The LSRV is an added credit for DER installations in eligible areas where the utility grid would benefit from additional generation capacity. Estimated savings based on average retail price of $0.08 per kWh for commercial customers based on 2018 Energy Information Administration data for the state of Illinois. In Hawaii, the solar community helped Hawaiian Electricafter the utility cut off interconnection requests for a period of timeto develop a better understanding of hosting capacity on its lines. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. This map does not restrict applications from being submitted for a particular circuit, but rather is a tool to inform applicants on the amount of generation a circuit has the potential to host without the need for significant system upgrades at the customer's cost. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Only 3 URL's can be saved at a time. To smooth the process of integrating DER, ComEd is developing and implementing technologies, like a hosting capacity map, so stakeholders can make informed decisions about where to install generation, like PV, as well as technologies to accelerate the interconnection process for smaller quantities of generation. The tool functions well, as intended, to provide developers of large DERs early insight into grid locational hosting capacity. An SDG&E spokesperson provided this comment: SDG&E has continuously innovated, tested and improved the HCA tool by working with key stakeholders, including IREC and CPUC staff, to develop and refine the methodology. The utility will also have to provide downloadable data of line segments with limitations they may have for adding capacity at different connection spots. Featured photo credit: Victoria Catterson via Flickr (CC BY 2.0). You may not have a full-fledged data center but your facility has a space housing your server or at least some networking equipment. 742 Pre Emption Road We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Call us at 1-855-433-2700 during normal business hours to speak with a ComEd Energy Efficiency Program representative. Solar tower of power shows benefits of vertical installations, Court rules that inverter sizing guides grid connection, California pulls the plug on rooftop solar, Retaining value for solar customers under California NEM 3.0 rule change, U.S. In general, this section applies to larger generators (e.g., Commercial Wind Farms, Biomass or Solar Projects). In the Commissions July 2020 order, the Commission adopted a long-term goal to use the hosting capacity analysis in the interconnection processs fast track screens. The Commissions July 2020 Order also required the Company to study three additional objectives for hosting capacity analysis: These objectives set the Commissions intentions for hosting capacity analysis to, at the least, augment initial review screens and, at the most, totally automate interconnection studies. Each Township, Section, Quarter-Section, Sixteenth-Section, or circuit is color coded based on its maximum hosting capacity value. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. Surplus availability for solar capacity always listed in AC/inverter sizing terms is determined by the utility and based on the minutia inherent to each circuit. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. New CRAC units are energy efficient, so youll not only effectively cool your IT closet, youll save on energy and maintenance costs, too. The analyses represent the overall feeder level hosting capacity only, and do not account for all factors that could impact interconnection costs (including substation constraints). If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Xcel has since written should the Commission determine it is in the public interest for the Company to advance and mature the HCA to be conducted more frequently and/or to integrate with the interconnection process, the Company would refine cost and timing estimates. Solar tower of power shows benefits of vertical installations, Court rules that inverter sizing guides grid connection, California pulls the plug on rooftop solar, Retaining value for solar customers under California NEM 3.0 rule change, U.S. % The analysis presented provides the circuit level hosting capacity for distribution circuits emanating from a substation at 34kV and below. Applications received by ComEd without payment of the application fee will not be entered into the interconnection process for review by ComEd. View the Interconnection Queue. Once the map is displayed, use the address search tool bar in the top left corner to zoom into a specific address. Knowing exactly what circuits can handle and which circuits are arguably in need of solar power is like a treasure map. <> ComEd's electric distribution system is dynamic and ComEd will provide periodic updates to the hosting capacity map. uqJF$ In this role, she contributes to blog posts, podcasts, video content, and interactive features. Link leads to external site, Share to Mail. PG&E, after conducting validation work, conceded that the solar results were erroneous, says the IREC paper. For timely updates, followJohn Farrellon Twitter, our energy work onFacebook, or sign up to get theEnergy Democracy weekly update. Find out about our Hosting Capacity platform and system data available. The Commissions July 2020 order, in response to Xcel Energys 2019 Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA) Report, found that improved and additional information will be necessary in future reports and provided the Commissions direction for future HCA reports. In this order, the Commission determined that Xcel should publish the actual locations of distribution system lines because giving customers and developers access to more precise data would allow them to make informed decisions about whether to pursue a project before investing significant time or resources into the planning process. Order Point 12 required Xcel Energy to do so in its 2020 Hosting Capacity Report. The Hosting Capacity Map shows a considerable disparity among communities in mile by mile sections with some able to host only 100-200 kWs to some with capacities of over 3,000 kW. Fax 905-686-1078 You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. If you have more to contribute, please comment with a link. Nice piece and I agree fully. Information for Developers of Renewable Energy. The maximum (peak) load hourly profile curve and minimum (light) load hourly profile curve are plotted on a single graph along with the capacity (in MW) of the substation supplying that network. On April 7, ILSR submitted comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to recommend they accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, recognizing a few caveats: Read ILSRs comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in full below. Contact: IMAP@nationalgrid.com As a solar developer and individual cheering for a strong power grid, few pieces of data are as useful as site data sorted by grid demand. Have questions about how to utilize and navigate the platform? Inaccurate results were also found in a different type of hosting capacity map produced by PG&E and two other California utilities, the IREC paper says: maps showing the capacity for added load on a circuit, such as electric vehicles. 12 of the July 2020 Order, the Commission directed the Company, to the extent practicable, show the actual locations of distribution system lines instead of broad blocks of color on the HCA map. Xcel Energy celebrates its reputation as a national leader in renewable energy with the nations largest community solar program, which gives customers cleaner energy options and more control over their energy use. This pride in marketing often doesnt align with the utilitys actions. We publish electrical technical handbooks and associated digital magazine advertising supplements. Hosting capacity analysis provides an opportunity to accommodate significant potential growth in distributed solar resources and ILSRs solar adoption model forecasts suggest that theres an urgency to action: within five years, distributed solar deployment could push the margins of Xcels hosting capacity. Xcel could do more to advance toward the ultimate goal: delivering its customers more cost-effective clean energy by integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. Given the proper policies and incentives, like robust hosting capacity analyses, distributed solar development can serve as a tool for economic stimulus and increased energy justice nationwide. However, printable, mailable forms are available: Ifmailing in your forms,the completed application and associated fees (in the form of a check or money order, only; do not send cash) should be sent to the following address: ComEdAttn: Interconnection Services Department2Lincoln Center, 9th FloorOakbrook Terrace, IL 60181Email our Interconnection Team1-630-576-8158, This document provides guidance and technical standards applicable to Interconnection Customers planning to install and operate a generator interconnected to the ComEd distribution system. As raised in a July 2020 Order by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, an improved hosting capacity analysis could be used to streamline the interconnection process of plugging solar into the electric grid. For the Stage 2 displays, each circuits hosting capacity is determined by evaluating the potential power system criteria violations as a result of large PV solar systems with an AC nameplate rating starting at and gradually increasing from 300 kW interconnecting to three phase distribution lines. This map is one tool that customers and developers can use to help assess the available hosting capacity in a given general location. A technical error has occurred. Hosting capacity is defined as the approximate amount of generation that can be accommodated at a given point in time on the system without impacting reliability, requiring specialized inverter settings, or without requiring system modifications. Most of these projects wont need high-voltage transmission lines, but instead can connect to the grid directly where customers are using power, or where there is excess capacity. We ask that the Commission require Xcel Energy to provide these violations in the HCA map pop-ups (as requested by the Commission in the July 2020 order), rather than just in the sub-feeder Tabular Results. Read the report, and find all of our resources and reporting on chain dollar stores here. For example, according to Xcel Energys integrated resource plan filing (Docket 19-368), future development of distributed generation resources will be meager. ComEd Delivery Customer Class Peak Load Contributions Customer Delivery Classifications Delivery Class Code Network Peak Load Contribution (NSPL) kW Capacity Peak Load Contribution (PLC) kW Capacity Peak Load Contribution (PLC) kW. 2016 - 2023 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Southern California Edison provides one such example of a more thorough hosting capacity map that includes criteria violation values. ComEd will provide the pre-application data to the potential application within 20 business days after receipt of the completed pre-application report request form and payment of the $300 fee. Subject to your specific situation, ComEd's response may require further action to be taken and/or further expense to be incurred by you in order to complete the interconnection. The highest capacity locations are seen in dark blue. Ameren Illinois has created a one-stop shop for Renewable Energy Developers to obtain all of the information they need to begin and complete a project. The hosting capacity analysis represents the overall circuit level hosting capacity only, and does not account for all factors that could impact interconnection costs (including substation constraints). Peak and Minimum Load Duration Curves x\r8}wTw*YNdc!88RV'O]t )$DZIIOF ys=N~=hAs`9Dr3N%_+E6'0QMwx4SJ\ip_NOuzr-2j#b/)eJm ! The procedures for interconnection are divided into four levels as follows: Generally speaking, DG facilities that are certified by nationally recognized testing laboratories and meet certain standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Underwriters' Laboratory, and the National Electrical Code, may qualify for interconnection under an expedited review process provided for in Levels 1 - 3. You can remove a saved URL to remember another. Questions? Seven states now require utilities to produce solar hosting capacity maps: California, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to Yochi Zakai, an attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, who wrote the IREC paper and represents IREC in state proceedings. Zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) icons are available to the left of the search tool bar. In fact, California regulators recently ruled to do just that utilize utility hosting capacity analyses to reduce the complexity of the interconnection process. The US PLSS is used to subdivide and describe land. You will not reproduce or use in any other medium, distribute, or otherwise use the tool or its information for any purpose other than the identification of potential sites for the interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to ComEd's distribution circuits. The hosting capacity map utilizes the United States Public Land Survey System (US PLSS) to present results. From what you need to develop an individual residential project, to Community Solar, and all the way up to a large industrial project. Each section is further subdivided into quarter-sections (1/2 mile X 1/2 mile). To investigate whether PG&Es early solar hosting capacity results were accurate, California Public Utilities Commission staff worked with PG&E, IREC and other stakeholders. www.tdworld.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The substation capacity may also be supplying additional load for another network and/or radial load area. Find a viable business owner interested in solar 2. The library zone below is used to load resources. But after the utility corrected its hosting capacity analysis, the map showed lots of green, the paper says, indicating lots of room for solarfor example for Monterey, California, shown at right, compared to lots of red in the initial version shown above. This process is automatic. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. <> Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. As outlined in an earlier pv magazine USA article, these still-young hosting capacity maps havent always shown the most accurate information, meaning that solar developers might not have reached out to customers in these regions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Each township is subdivided into 36 sections (1 mile X 1 mile). Washington, DC and part of Maryland: Potomac Electric Power Company map; Last year, ComEd in Illinois also published a hosting capacity map. hosting capacity map can help you identify potential sites for the interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to ComEd's distribution circuits. Read our policy. Xcel has not fulfilled the requirements outlined in the Public Utility Commissions July 2020 Order. Please contact our Customer Care Center if you have questions. If the Commission rules that Xcel must comply with Order Point 12, it should levy financial penalties if the Company does not comply. Voices of 100%: Youth Propel a Climate Action Plan, Community Solar Collective Gives Member-Owners Pow, 475 megawatts of residential solar by 2034, as a tool for economic stimulus and increased energy justice, comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Why Utilities in Minnesota and Other States Need to Plan for More Competition, committed to make the interconnection process work better, approving the November 2, 2020 Petition To Publish Certain Information about Applications in the Interconnection Queue, map that includes criteria violation values, Mainstreaming Electric Homes Episode 178 of Local Energy Rules. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) When was the last time you replaced your IT closets UPS? Adding complexity, theres still the human factor involved, because the numbers arent entirely accurate in all places; think of them as a guide. Con Edison does not warrant the accuracy of these informational forecasts. Our service area includes all of New York City, and Westchester County, located directly north of New York City. Whether you're a customer, contractor, or developer, our interactive Xcel . Over time, a location may produce different circuit results. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. In the same ruling, Xcel was ordered to create a better process for addressing interconnection complaints (by June 2021). Really hope utilities and leaders are thoughtful about more consistent updates to these portals (live data, in an ideal world) to improve results across the board. By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Developer submits the interconnection requestand hopes for the best. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. For example, the 18 sections of Oak Park Township capacity range from 612 to 909 kW, and total 13,260 kW of photovoltaic power. In Why Utilities in Minnesota and Other States Need to Plan for More Competition, ILSR found that Xcel Energys forecasts for distributed solar, including customer-sited and community solar, are significantly low in light of existing trends and comparative models. It may be easy to under-invest in a robust hosting capacity analysis if the utility (and regulators) under-count potential distributed solar development. Each substation and feeder where an interconnection will be made will be identified in the reported data by a unique index number assigned for the purpose of reporting interconnection queue information hereunder, and not by any geographic or operational designation or description. Prior to connecting, the distributed generation system owner must obtain written approval from the local utility in the form of an Interconnection Service Agreement and subsequent Authorization to Connect. Each quarter section is further subdivided into sixteenth-sections (1/4 mile X 1/4 mile). Southern California Edison's hosting maps contain a built-in function enabling users . This tool isnt applicable for the vast majority of DER project planning (around 98%) in SDG&Es service territory. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Seven states now require utilities to produce solar hosting capacity maps: California, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to Yochi Zakai, an attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, who wrote the IREC paper and represents IREC in state proceedings. Each utility has a set of rules and disclaimers governing the information they release, and what that information represents on their maps. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The next step beyond ensuring accuracy and actionability is automating interconnection applications based on specific map grid circuits and line sections, with click and claim capabilities that link these maps with automated interconnection portals. Grid security is a vital issue, but we fear it may serve as an excuse to further delay the interconnection of distributed generation. Stay informed. California has taken steps to mitigate this risk by requiring electricity utilities to provide increasingly detailed maps of the grid. With the evolution of these HCA maps, developers now have access to something that previously was elusive: useful data. Our Electrical Training Institute is a leader in electrical training, through public enrolment electrical courses as well as on-line electrical training courses and webinars. The three utilities, PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, agreed that the questionable load results warrant investigation and refinement of their methodology, the paper says. The six other states requiring hosting capacity analysis are California, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. Based on ComEds Hosting Capacity, Oak Park could generate about 6% of its electricity from solar power located within its borders. E999/CI20-800. Commercial Solar Guy is a commercial solar developer, general contractor, and consultant. An expedited review of the interconnection request under Levels 1 - 3 is available provided the proposed DG facility passes the screens outlined in Part 466 and does not require construction of facilities by ComEd to protect reliability and accommodate the interconnection of the DG facility. The watchword is actionable. If the maps arent actionable (b/c theyre not accurate) they re actually worse than useless. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Source: Data has been sourced from multiple National Grid groups and incorporated into this Portal by National Grid's IMAP team. The Commission should accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, but set more parameters around its implementation. Computer Room Air Conditioning Unit (CRAC) Older equipment can cost your facility more money on energy costs and maintenance. You may submit your application for Level 1 Distributed Generation Interconnection or Levels 2, 3 or 4 Distributed Generation online. "The hosting capacity map will be stale soon after it's published," he said. In at least five more states, regulators are considering requiring utilities to produce such maps, or to improve the maps they are already publishing, Zakai said: Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. The Hosting Map can provide insight into how much solar can be installed in which locations in order to help solar reach a significant portion of the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 25% electricity from renewable sources by 2025. With significant anticipated growth in distributed solar across all states, electric grid managers need every tool possible to smooth its incorporation into the grid. Register with an email address to update your login credentials. Error: Please call us at 1-800-752-6633 to complete this request. These reports identify where the grid can accommodate additional distributed generation capacity (including rooftop and community solar) and the results are displayed on the companys Hosting Capacity Map. www.tdworld.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The Company continues to question the Commissions intentions and displays a general lack of urgency in this matter. The 3-year, 8,760 network forecast utilizes the General Electric-Multi-Area Reliability Simulation (GE-MARS) program to modify the actual hourly loads from the previous year based on monthly energy distribution from the previous year, forecasted peak demand, and energy send-out. The Companys actions can also run counter to the purpose of the hosting capacity analysis reports, as set by Minn. Stat. Your email address will not be published. A potential applicant may submit a formal written request form along with a non-refundable fee for a pre-application report on a proposed project at a specific site. . Minnesota is one of seven states that require utilities to conduct hosting capacity analysis and present their results in a map resource. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) respectfully submits the following comments on Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Report. Why Minnesotas Community Solar Program is the Best, Feds Should Collect Better Data for Fairer Markets and Energy Justice. Your email address will not be published. Join our newsletter. Each substation and feeder where an interconnection will be made will be identified in the reported data by a unique index number assigned for the purpose of reporting interconnection queue information hereunder, and not by any geographic or operational designation or description. The provision of this data would support using hosting capacity analysis in the place of initial review screens for interconnection processing, which the Commission adopted as a long-term goal in the July 2020 order. Read our policy. The Commission should accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, but we submit the following concerns about the Report and suggest additional development to advance the common goals of customers and the Commission.