For example, a recent 200 kWac project in Rhode Island learned when the interconnection application was submitted that no additional solar power was on either the local circuit or at the substation. Modeling experts could determine what those additional checks should be, the paper says. Interconnection is the process of connecting a distributed generation system to the electric grid. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Solar hosting capacity is the gold to be found in these utility treasure maps. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. ILSR asks that the Commission provide the Company more direction, in the form of deadlines to use HCA in initial or supplemental interconnection review (in the next 18-24 months) and automating at least a portion of interconnection proceedings (by 2025) as well as staff-facilitated working groups to guide implementation. The Companys actions can also run counter to the purpose of the hosting capacity analysis reports, as set by Minn. Stat. Only 3 URL's can be saved at a time. If you are considering the option of connecting a generator to ComEd's electric transmission system, you must meet certain facility connection and performance requirements that are established to avoid adverse impacts on reliability. 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. Why is Connecting Clean Energy to the Grid So Hard? E999/CI20-800, rule whether Xcel Energy must comply with Order Point 12 of the July 2020 order. The Company updates the information provided based on data that is current as of a specific point in time and neither that data nor the queue is represented to be, and may not be relied upon to be, current, complete, or accurate as of any future date. I was involved in various CPUC regulatory proceedings on these maps and made the same kinds of comments frequently. GwfaaLLI'U:gp*= G}.a[8. The Commission should accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, but set more parameters around its implementation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The IREC paper describes how some utilities have worked to ensure accurate inputs to their hosting capacity analysis, and use automated flags to identify anomalous modeling results. Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. 216B.2425, subdivision 8, to support the continued development of distributed generation resources.. 2 0 obj If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. New CRAC units are energy efficient, so youll not only effectively cool your IT closet, youll save on energy and maintenance costs, too. Solar developers take on module manufacturing risk. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. The analyses presented in these displays provide the feeder level hosting capacity for the distribution circuits evaluated. ComEd's electric distribution system is dynamic and ComEd will provide periodic updates to the hosting capacity map. The Commission should host staff-facilitated working group sessions on integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has required that Xcel Energy, the largest electricity provider in Minnesota, conduct annual hosting capacity analysis reports since 2016.These reports identify where the grid can accommodate additional distributed generation capacity (including rooftop and community solar) and the results are displayed on the company's Hosting Capacity Map. Applications received by ComEd without payment of the application fee will not be entered into the interconnection process for review by ComEd. 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. 14456 Pickering, ON Introduction. Supporters agreed that the Companys participation in greater inter-developer transparency could facilitate cost-sharing in line upgrades and would be an improvement from the current cost-causer pays model. A legend can also be found in the top left corner of the 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. This is necessary, because developer complaints have continued to the present. Electricity Forum publishes Electricity Today T&D Magazine and Intelligent Power Today Industrial Electrical Magazine. Solar hosting capacity maps, now required in seven states, show where solar can be added on a distribution circuit without incurring any grid expensebut only if those maps are accurate. Created Date: 12/6/2022 2:39:55 PM . 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. 2. Register with an email address to update your login credentials. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. If you have more to contribute, please comment with a link. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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 library zone below is used to load resources. Error: Please call us at 1-800-752-6633 to complete this request. Additionally, we have provided the peak substation load for the previous year. 742 Pre Emption Road Learn about the benefits of installing solar, along with local and private generation specs and incentives. Image: Interstate Renewable Energy Council screen capture of PG&E map. ILSR defers further discussion on this topic to Docket No. Adding complexity, theres still the human factor involved, because the numbers arent entirely accurate in all places; think of them as a guide. DER hosting capacity is a function of resistance on any circuit Fact: DER hosting capacity increases w/nominal voltage . If the Commission rules that Xcel must comply with Order Point 12, it should levy financial penalties if the Company does not comply. Please be mindful of our community standards. Developers can look at the map and predict where they might install a solar garden. Tel 905-686-1040 Click on a Township, Section, Quarter-Section, Sixteenth-Section, or circuit to display the maximum hosting capacity value. Please contact our Customer Care Center if you have questions. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. SDG&Es HCA tool allows users to see hourly changes in load capacity., IRECs recommendations apply to both solar hosting capacity and load hosting capacity. For example, according to Xcel Energys integrated resource plan filing (Docket 19-368), future development of distributed generation resources will be meager. View interconnection queue information for all Distributed Generation or Distributed Storage Resource Projects. That meant solar developers had zero access to critical power grid connection information, substation status, and other local solar plant connections. The Hosting Capacity map gives an indication of how much generation (expressed in kW) can be added to a feeder before the feeder reaches capacity or other limitations that reduce the reliability of service to electric customers on the feeder. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It does not appear on display pages. Zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) icons are available to the left of the search tool bar. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has required that Xcel Energy, the largest electricity provider in Minnesota, conduct annual hosting capacity analysis reports since 2016. 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). Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. Since then, multiple states have created legal requirements forcing electric monopolies to share their power grid data with solar developers via what are known as Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA) maps. A decade ago, resources for scouting viable locations for new distributed energy resources (DER) simply did not exist. Your email address will not be published. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and similar chain dollar stores are targeting vulnerable communities across the US. 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. Some locations within the PECO service territory have greater potential to support such interconnections than others. Log in using your email address if you've already registered. Your contributions support local solutions. We provide localized 8,760 hour forecasts to assist developers in considering the application of DER in our service territory. Each township is subdivided into 36 sections (1 mile X 1 mile). Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox. What makes feeder locations a greater risk threat in Minnesota than in New York or California? This article originally posted atilsr.org. 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. A hosting capacity map displays a high-level estimate of the available hosting capacity for adding DG. Xcel has stated in the HCA report that the Company is committed to make the interconnection process work better. ILSR asks that the Commission hold them to that with specific, time-bound deadlines. As documented in the Star Tribune, interconnection delays have frustrated Minnesotas solar developers. Information for Developers of Renewable Energy. The library zone below is used to load resources. Frequently Asked Questions to provide guidance to common interconnection application inquiries. The following charts, taken from the joint comments of ILSR and partners, illustrate the gulf between Xcels distributed solar forecast and ILSRs adoption model that aligns with distributed solar deployment in several mature markets. This site uses cookies. The Electricity Forum (In Canada) 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. Please see Part 466 for specific qualification requirements (screens) for each interconnection level. Owner signs deal, $2,5000 payment made for PE-stamped one line & interconnection application 3. 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. In Georgia, solar groups last year called for state regulators to require Georgia Power to produce such maps. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. It does not appear on display pages. ComEd has assembled the answers to some Washington, DC and part of Maryland: Potomac Electric Power Company map; Last year, ComEd in Illinois also published a hosting capacity map. www.tdworld.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Read the report, and find all of our resources and reporting on chain dollar stores here. Call us at 1-855-433-2700 during normal business hours to speak with a ComEd Energy Efficiency Program representative. hosting capacity map can help you identify potential sites for the interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to ComEd's distribution circuits. This hosting capacity data is provided for informational purposes only and is nota substitute for the established interconnection application process. 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. A technical error has occurred. ComEd has created a hosting capacity map that developers can utilize that will help them locate areas in our service territory where the existing electrical infrastructure may be more cost. The highest capacity locations are seen in dark blue. 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. Contact: IMAP@nationalgrid.com 2016 - 2023 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) respectfully submits the following comments on Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Report. Our new report details these companies rapid expansion, the growing resistance, and the pressing need for federal policy interventions. stream 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. Each section is further subdivided into quarter-sections (1/2 mile X 1/2 mile). #HViWPy;&)kkgg N?22Z/'QHn5PBgayqzYL*k$4798poGo+kn~V9X|,Fv1>dv3>#w]z#?w(KWpy@Ixgw\@32qVz.+Z:p:dCANg87p] yVz|&G rl;s FaaH\ W(x6_n a_W_$37&\Gs4rq! 1 0 obj The Commission should order Xcel Energy to publish all criteria violations on the HCA map. These tools make it so every stakeholder in the process is able to work more efficiently and save the entire system precious time + money. Oak Park, according to the PlanItGreen Report Card, a joint project of the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation and Seven Generations Ahead, uses about 325 million kWh. The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program is funded in compliance with state law. The resulting tools are like treasure maps for solar developers. The Commission should set a deadline and intermediate goals for the ultimate integration of hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. With significant anticipated growth in distributed solar across all states, electric grid managers need every tool possible to smooth its incorporation into the grid. 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. From what you need to develop an individual residential project, to Community Solar, and all the way up to a large industrial project. 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. pv magazine offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. Your completed pre-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 Team. Every interconnection location must be specifically assessed through the formal interconnection process. But by the time the projects interconnection was returned, a 5 MWac solar project had won approval at the substation. These forecasts have uncertainties, such as weather and hourly load curves, as well as the typical inherent forecasting error, including, but not limited to economic drivers, customer decisions and/or behavior, and forecasted DERs. Hosting Capacity is an estimate of the amount of DER that may be accommodated under current configurations at the overall circuit level without significant systemupgradesto address adverse impacts to power quality or reliability. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. Register with an email address to update your login credentials. The California utility PG&Es first hosting capacity map showed little or no room for new distributed solar on 80% of its feeders, reports a paper from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). 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. The hosting capacity map is offered free of charge and correspondingly is not as accurate as the next steps for obtaining more specific information. It does not appear on display pages. 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. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. As part of the Hosting Capacity Portal we provide aggregated DG values at the substation level. According to ComEd's description, "Hosting Capacity is an estimate of the amount of DER [distributed energy resources] that may be accommodated under current configurations at the overall circuit level without significant system upgrades to address adverse impacts to power quality or reliability." 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. According to ComEd's description, "Hosting Capacity is an estimate of the amount of DER [distributed energy resources] that may be accommodated under current configurations at the overall circuit level without significant system upgrades to address adverse impacts to power quality or reliability." California has taken steps to mitigate this risk by requiring electricity utilities to provide increasingly detailed maps of the grid. Tel 289-387-1025, 'Electricity out of essentially nothing': Invention creates power from falling snow, New Rules for a Future Puerto Rico Microgrid Landscape, Petrochemical plants will diversify economy, create jobs, China, Cambodia agree to nuclear energy cooperation, Electricity System More Accountable to Nova Scotians, Arc Flash Training - CSA Z462 -2021 - Certified Electrical Safety Instruction, Electrical Grounding For Telecommunications Systems, Grounding and Bonding and The NEC - Section 250, Combined NFPA 70e LV Arc Flash And HV Electrical Safety, Short Circuit Study & Protective Device Coordination, Arc Flash Analysis/Study - IEEE 1584 Update, 30 Hour Electrical Power System Training - Power System Fundamentals (March 10, 2023, Short Circuit Study & Device Coordination (March 16-17, 2023), Arc Flash Analysis (March 23-24, 2023), Electrical Safety Awareness Training For Non Electrical Workers - Live Online Instructor-Led Training, Lightning Protection Systems Training For Utility, Industrial, Commercial & Institutional power systems, Combined CSA Z462 LV & HV Electrical Safety Training, Fire Alarm Training Online - Life Safety Equipment & Systems - Design, Installation, Inspection, Testing, Service & Maintenance, Grounding and Bonding Training And The CE Code. As it turned out, the larger-scale ground mount project was moving slowly due to local resistance. Nice piece and I agree fully. However, the interconnection process stands to gain much more from hosting capacity analysis. But the inefficient air conditioning units preventing your servers from overheating may be costing you more in energy costs and maintenance fees every month. 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. 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. 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. The Interconnection Queue Report is intended to provide interconnection information according to the terms and conditions of ComEds Rider IQ Tariff. In summary, there are 5 things we ask of the Commission: Thank you for the opportunity to comment and for taking up this important conversation; we appreciate that there has not been any legislative preemption of this regulatory process. LSRV areas will display a status of Eligible on the Hosting Capacity map under LSRV Area Information. For more on LSRV, VDER and the Value stack, visit our Private Generation Tariffs page. 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. Whether youre a customer, contractor, or developer, our interactive maps can help you identify potential sites for private generation. Featured photo credit: Victoria Catterson via Flickr (CC BY 2.0). States that now provide HCA maps include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 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. These network curves shows a representative load profile of the forecasted hourly peak (maximum) loads for 2018, and a representative load profile on light loads (minimum load) for the networks (based on 2017 data). Required fields are marked *. Why Minnesotas Community Solar Program is the Best, Feds Should Collect Better Data for Fairer Markets and Energy Justice. Multiple states require electric utilities to share their power grid data with solar developers. In fact, California regulators recently ruled to do just that utilize utility hosting capacity analyses to reduce the complexity of the interconnection process. email the ComEd DER Interconnection team. PECO is committed to providing safe and reliable service for customers while also supporting the interconnection of customer-owned renewable energy and Distributed Energy Resources (DER), like solar. 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. As previously mentioned, existing DER is not considered in this stage of the hosting capacity analysis, and the data pop-ups are intended to provide additional context to the displays. It divides the ComEd service territory into townships (6 miles X 6 miles). Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Join our newsletter. Each Township, Section, Quarter-Section, Sixteenth-Section, or circuit is color coded based on its maximum hosting capacity value. Additional information includes total solar already on the circuit, the circuits voltage, whether the circuit is three phase or single phase, and a range of substation bank information. Processing: Hosting Capacity map added on August 11, 2017. For example, Minnesotas community solar program is on track to reach one gigawatt of generation capacity as early as 2022 and ILSR predicts the development of an additional 475 megawatts of residential solar by 2034. A decade ago, resources for scouting viable locations for new distributed energy resources (DER) simply did not exist. This map is one tool that customers and developers can use to help assess the available hosting capacity in a given general location. Join our newsletter. For example, the 18 sections of Oak Park Township capacity range from 612 to 909 kW, and total 13,260 kW of photovoltaic power. 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. Please note that issues related to circuit protection require further analysis to make a definitive determination of hosting capacity. 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%. These values are representative of the total amount of DG that is installed on the feeders and networks associated with the area substation. Xcel has not fulfilled the requirements outlined in the Commissions July 2020 Order. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. By viewing the map below, you agree and acknowledge that: The information in this tool is for guidance purposes only and is not guaranteed. Its also clear that hosting capacity could play an important role in addressing timeliness in processing the interconnection of distributed energy resources. Source: Data has been sourced from multiple National Grid groups and incorporated into this Portal by National Grid's IMAP team. A technical error has occurred. 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. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. 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. Your 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: ComEd Attn: Interconnection Services Department Two Lincoln Center, 9 th Floor Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 Email our Interconnection Service Department 1-630-576-8158 Interconnection Gui delines 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. New York States adoption of Reforming the Energy Vision is moving our industry forward toward a new and sustainable energy future. As part of changes to Rule 21, the California Public Utilities Commission is requiring utilities to use their Integration Capacity Analysis (equivalent to hosting capacity analysis) as part of the interconnection process. We continue to believe such an approach would risk grid security and customer privacy, confidentiality and security as described in more detail in Section III below and in attachment E. Therefore, we again provide a heat map view of available hosting capacity. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Hosting Capacity is the amount of distributed energy that can be placed without requiring system upgrades or effecting power quality. In the same ruling, Xcel was ordered to create a better process for addressing interconnection complaints (by June 2021). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Knowing exactly what circuits can handle and which circuits are arguably in need of solar power is like a treasure map. The tool functions well, as intended, to provide developers of large DERs early insight into grid locational hosting capacity. Maria McCoy is a Researcher with the Energy Democracy Initiative. From schools, local government buildings and fire and police stations to offices, medical facilities and more, each facility has a room storing networking equipment or at least a small server stack. pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. 1885 Clements Rd, Unit 218 Circuit configurations can change for various reasons. It divides the ComEd service territory into townships (6 miles X 6 miles).