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Released November 09, 2023 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--A study released recently by New England's grid operator, ISO New England (Holyoke, Massachusetts), suggests that the region could spend up to $26 billion on power transmission and distribution (T&D) projects by 2050, to allow for new forms of energy and meet increased power demand. ISO New England covers the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, which corresponds to Industrial Info's coverage of the New England market region.
The region's increased demand for power will come from the rising electrification of heat and transportation, the study suggested. In addition, new power in the region is largely expected to come from renewable-energy facilities, including offshore wind installations that are located further from consumers, necessitating the need for additional T&D infrastructure.
Examples of renewable energy under construction in the area include the Vineyard 1 offshore windfarm off the coast of Massachusetts, which is being developed by Spain's Iberdrola (Bilbao). The first turbine was put in place last month
Vineyard 1 eventually will boast 62 General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Boston, Massachusetts) Haliade-X turbines and have a total generation capacity of 806 megawatts (MW), enough to power 400,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses, according to developers, who hope to have 200-300 MW of generation in place by the end of this year, with the balance of the plant's power coming online in 2024. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for related reports.
In addition to offshore windfarms, several onshore solar and wind-power installations are set to be brought online in the region over the next few years, particularly in Maine, which boasts more than $2.7 billion of active renewable energy projects. Apex Clean Energy, for example, is building its Downeast wind project near Cherryfield, Maine, which will add approximately 126 MW of power generation to the New England grid next year via 30 turbines, each rated at 4.2 MW. Subscribers can click here for more details.
These new forms of energy will tax the region's existing transmission infrastructure, according to ISO New England. "The region's aging transmission system has the potential to become a significant bottleneck to progress if it does not keep pace with changes to other elements of the power system," the study said.
An earlier study released by ISO New England found the region will require large amounts of clean energy, along with traditional power sources and more robust transmission, to maintain a reliable energy supply throughout the energy transition. The 2050 Transmission Study suggests that necessary transmission upgrades would cost approximately $750 million for each additional gigawatt up to 51 GW, and that costs would then double to $1.5 billion per gigawatt up to 57 GW. However, the study found that additions could be limited to 51 GW using stored fuels like natural gas on very cold days, paying consumers to limit electricity use when demand is high and more aggressively implementing energy-efficiency programs.
The study found that about $12 billion had spent to upgrade New England's power transmission system since 2002, with another $1.5 billion of investment expected through 2027.
Several transmission projects already are in the works. Avangrid Incorporated (NYSE:AGR) (Orange, Connecticut), for example, earlier this year kicked off its New England Clean Energy Connect project, which will connect 1,200 MW of renewable energy to New England in Lewiston, Maine. The project includes 54 miles of new transmission line, upgrades to 91 miles of existing line, and construction of a new converter station and substation in a system that will source some power from renewable sources in Quebec. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. Subscribers can click here for related project reports.
Regarding the area's anticipated influx of offshore wind, some developers already are putting transmission infrastructure into place. To accommodate the earlier-discussed Vineyard offshore windfarm in Massachusetts, Iberdrola is putting in place Eastern and Western Corridor transmission lines from the installation. The Eastern Corridor portion will include a 34-mile submersed portion that will come ashore in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and travel underground for six miles before connecting to a new substation that was completed earlier this year. The Western portion will travel for a similar length to the substation, coming ashore at Covell's Beach. Both portions of the project are expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project reports on the Eastern and Western portions of the project.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Project Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
The region's increased demand for power will come from the rising electrification of heat and transportation, the study suggested. In addition, new power in the region is largely expected to come from renewable-energy facilities, including offshore wind installations that are located further from consumers, necessitating the need for additional T&D infrastructure.
Examples of renewable energy under construction in the area include the Vineyard 1 offshore windfarm off the coast of Massachusetts, which is being developed by Spain's Iberdrola (Bilbao). The first turbine was put in place last month
Vineyard 1 eventually will boast 62 General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Boston, Massachusetts) Haliade-X turbines and have a total generation capacity of 806 megawatts (MW), enough to power 400,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses, according to developers, who hope to have 200-300 MW of generation in place by the end of this year, with the balance of the plant's power coming online in 2024. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for related reports.
In addition to offshore windfarms, several onshore solar and wind-power installations are set to be brought online in the region over the next few years, particularly in Maine, which boasts more than $2.7 billion of active renewable energy projects. Apex Clean Energy, for example, is building its Downeast wind project near Cherryfield, Maine, which will add approximately 126 MW of power generation to the New England grid next year via 30 turbines, each rated at 4.2 MW. Subscribers can click here for more details.
These new forms of energy will tax the region's existing transmission infrastructure, according to ISO New England. "The region's aging transmission system has the potential to become a significant bottleneck to progress if it does not keep pace with changes to other elements of the power system," the study said.
An earlier study released by ISO New England found the region will require large amounts of clean energy, along with traditional power sources and more robust transmission, to maintain a reliable energy supply throughout the energy transition. The 2050 Transmission Study suggests that necessary transmission upgrades would cost approximately $750 million for each additional gigawatt up to 51 GW, and that costs would then double to $1.5 billion per gigawatt up to 57 GW. However, the study found that additions could be limited to 51 GW using stored fuels like natural gas on very cold days, paying consumers to limit electricity use when demand is high and more aggressively implementing energy-efficiency programs.
The study found that about $12 billion had spent to upgrade New England's power transmission system since 2002, with another $1.5 billion of investment expected through 2027.
Several transmission projects already are in the works. Avangrid Incorporated (NYSE:AGR) (Orange, Connecticut), for example, earlier this year kicked off its New England Clean Energy Connect project, which will connect 1,200 MW of renewable energy to New England in Lewiston, Maine. The project includes 54 miles of new transmission line, upgrades to 91 miles of existing line, and construction of a new converter station and substation in a system that will source some power from renewable sources in Quebec. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. Subscribers can click here for related project reports.
Regarding the area's anticipated influx of offshore wind, some developers already are putting transmission infrastructure into place. To accommodate the earlier-discussed Vineyard offshore windfarm in Massachusetts, Iberdrola is putting in place Eastern and Western Corridor transmission lines from the installation. The Eastern Corridor portion will include a 34-mile submersed portion that will come ashore in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and travel underground for six miles before connecting to a new substation that was completed earlier this year. The Western portion will travel for a similar length to the substation, coming ashore at Covell's Beach. Both portions of the project are expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project reports on the Eastern and Western portions of the project.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Project Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
