More Utilities, Grid Operators Look to Non-Wires Alternatives

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Utilities and grid operators have noticed a growing trend of so-called non-wires alternatives to conventional Power Transmission & Distribution systems.

Non-wires alternatives include battery storage, flow control devices and demand response. The alternative approach to manage congestion on the transmission grid is to embrace a more flexible, scalable, economical and operationally efficient electrical grid system in order to defer specific equipment upgrades by reducing the load at the substation or circuit level.

Instead of upgrading substations and transmission lines, electrical grid owners and operators can instead look to implement distributed generations, micro grids, energy storage or demand response as more creative and lower-cost solutions.

These alternative solutions are becoming more prevalent across North America and are being developed as new technologies improve and become more widespread. Electric utilities in North America have begun to implement these solutions to address load growth due to retirements of large power generating plants across their territories, as well as using them to augment loads in remote locations with small populations and rugged terrain where it would be too expensive to use conventional transmission and substations upgrades.

Non-wires alternatives can also reduce costs for electric ratepayers.

Public opposition to expanded or new transmission lines also has created an environment for utilities to explore alternative solutions to grid constraints and high-cost estimates for power grid upgrades.

Demand-response alternatives are shifting toward resources that provide targeted solutions for everyday grid operations in order to keep pace with pockets of growing peak demand. However, grid operators and utilities say market barriers to more non-wire alternative solutions remain, due to the lack of regulatory incentives, business case and cost benefit analysis studies and customer engagement.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.