T&D POWER Direct

Welcome to the August issue of T&D POWER Direct, a monthly e-newsletter from POWER magazine that provides important news and information focused on transmission and distribution (T&D) topics, including articles on new technology, operations and maintenance best practices, industry trends, innovative projects, and much more.

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NYISO Announces Interconnection Enhancements and Improvements | The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has launched a new interconnection process with significant improvements and enhancements, crucial for integrating a high volume of new generation facilities onto the grid.

Viking Link: The Epic Build of the World's Longest Onshore and Subsea HVDC Interconnector | A marvel of modern engineering, Viking Link—the world’s longest onshore and subsea interconnector—began commercial operations in December 2023. The project garners POWER’s inaugural Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Award for its many stellar attributes, including the milestones and innovations that have defined its journey.

Vietnamese Distribution Grid Automation System a Winning Project | Vietnam Electricity Group’s Ho Chi Minh City Power Corp. (EVNHCMC) deployed a distribution automation system that facilitates automatic—and very quick—fault detection and handling with a success rate of more than 90%. The project improved EVNHCMC’s reliability immensely, leading to its selection as POWER’s 2024 Smart Grid Award winner.

In Case You Missed It: The Transformer Crisis: An Industry on the Brink | For several years now, the power sector has frantically raised the alarm about an impending transformer supply chain crisis, seeking to reinforce the availability of the component that many consider the backbone of the electric industry. But since the COVID pandemic, the crisis has descended full-blown and grown crippling. In April, global research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie warned that transformer lead times have continued an upward trajectory and now stand at 115 to 130 weeks—more than two years—on average. Lead times for large transformers, both substation power transformers and generator step-up (GSU) transformers, have surged to 120 to 210 weeks—or 2.3 to 4 years. At the same time, depending on the size and application, transformer prices have risen 60% to 80% on average since January 2020, driven upward by raw material commodities. Prices for grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES), though significantly volatile, have almost doubled since the pandemic, while copper prices surged upwards of 40%.

Industry Giants, German TSOs Team to Revolutionize HVDC Grid With Multi-Terminal Hubs | Three major high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology giants—GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, and Hitachi Energy—will join forces with four German transmission system operators—50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW—to develop multiterminal hubs with direct current circuit breakers.

FERC Adopts Transmission Reform; Commissioner Cries Foul | There has been a growing consensus in recent years that the transmission planning process must be reformed to ensure reliability in the face of a rapidly changing grid. Despite the need for new transmission to integrate record numbers of interconnection requests and to address emerging reliability challenges, investment in new transmission facilities has been relatively flat, or declined, in many regions over the past several years. For instance, the “National Transmission Needs Study” issued by the Department of Energy in October 2023 found that transmission investment has steadily declined since 2015 in multiple regions around the country.

Risks Associated with Geomagnetic Storms | In May 2024, stargazers and smartphone photographers witnessed a spectacular moment in time over the course of two nights. Social media and news outlets were dazzled by incandescent light plays from around the world—magenta skies gleamed over the city of Vienna, rainbow hues illuminated a lighthouse in England, emerald displays lit up the lakes of Minnesota, and violet lights danced over palm trees in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

AI and Storm Resilience: How Utilities Can Optimize Storm Solutions and Mitigate Risks | As climate change accelerates, rising humidity is causing an increase in the number and severity of storms occurring in the northern hemisphere. An academic study found that the frequency of unstable atmospheric conditions increased by 8% to 32% over most land areas from 1979 to 2020. “Storm intensity is increasing much faster than the average change in precipitation,” said Aiguo Dai, a professor of atmospheric science and the study’s author. “And it’s the intensity that really matters, because that’s what we design our infrastructure to handle.”

Achieving Operational Flexibility with Voltage Control | Using voltage data down to the consumer level is essential for grid optimisation and operational flexibility in the new era of intermittent generation and fast-changing user demand.

Connecting Infrastructure’s Dots to Solve Today’s Urban Management Issues | Connected infrastructure offers a holistic approach to creating a smarter, greener, and more livable world.