Technical Papers

Articles and White Papers

Capacity Credit Value of Wind in a Balanced Portfolio

Summary:

Capacity Credit value of wind in a balanced portfolio Wind electric conversion has become one of the most promising technologies to address the various energy issues facing the United States. National initiatives such as “20% electricity from wind by 2030” and grand plans to replace some of the gas-fired electric generation by wind so that the saved gas can be used in compressed form to power automobiles leading to a decrease in importation of petroleum are manifestation of the progress made just in the past decade.

Author info: Gudimetla, B., Enslin, J., and Ramakumar, R.G.

Dawn of the Grid Synchronization

Summary:

RECENT INCREASE IN WORLD-WIDE DISTURBANCES, CONGESTION management challenges, and increased complexity in operating the power grid have emphasized the need for grid revitalization. Advanced applications in wide area monitoring, protection, and control (WAMPAC) systems offer a cost-effective solution to improve system planning, operation, maintenance, and energy trading.

Author info: Novosel, D etc.

Energy Storage Overview: Applications, Technologies and Economical Evaluation

Summary:

The electric system needs to balance supply and demand on a moment to moment basis. Energy commodities such as coal, oil and natural gas can be readily stored in massive quantities. However, the storage of electricity has been relatively complex and expensive.

Author info: Teleke, Sercan

Future Vision: the Challenge of Effective Transmission Planning

Summary:

EXCEPTIONAL FORCES ARE CHANGING THE USE OF THE TRANSMISSION infrastructure in the United States. There are high expectations that the transmission system will support and enable national-level economic, renewable energy, and other emerging policy issues.

Author info: Morrow, D.J. and Brown, R.E.

Grid Impacts and Solutions of Renewables at High Penetration Levels

Summary:

In 2002, California established its Renewable Portfolio Standard Program, with the goal of increasing the percentage of renewable energy in the state's electricity mix to 20% by 2017. On November 17, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-14-08 requiring that California utilities reach the 33% renewables goal by 2020. If you would like the complete document, please contact Johan Enslin.

Author info: Enslin, J.

Hard to Find Information About Distribution Systems

Summary:

The distribution system shown below illustrates many of the features of a distribution system making it unique. The voltage level of a distribution system can be anywhere from about 5 kV to as high as 35 kV with the most common voltages in the 15 kV class. Areas served by a given voltage are proportional to the voltage itself indicating that, for the same load density, a 35 kV system can serve considerably longer lines.

Author info: Burke, J. J.

Hard to Find Information About Distribution Systems, Vol 2

Summary:

For most of my career, spanning over 40 years, the term “stray voltage” has meant one thing, i.e. the voltage between the neutral conductor and the earth, resulting from unbalanced current. Since unbalanced current is an integral part of a 4 wire multi-grounded system, it was considered normal. The only issues that arose were from the dairy industry and occasionally from a pool owner.

Integrated System Architecture and Technology Roadmap Toward WAMPAC

Summary:

Integrated System Architecture and Technology Roadmap toward WAMPAC Anthony Johnson, Member, IEEE, Jun Wen, Member, IEEE, Jia Wang, Member, IEEE, Edwin Liu, Fellow, IEEE, Yi Hu, Senior Member, IEEE, Abstract--With the advancement of sensor, communication and information technologies, Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (WAMPAC) systems have been identified as the new generation of solutions to improve power system planning, operation and protection.

Author info: Johnson, A., Wen, W., Wang, J., Liu, E., Hi, L.,

Managing Enterprise Information for Smart Meters and Smart Grid

Summary:

Driven to further increase energy and operational efficiencies and encouraged by government policies and incentives, many utilities are exploring, planning, or already beginning to implement “Smart Grid”. Smart Grid implementations can potentially add hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new equipment and devices to the energy delivery system and infrastructure of the utility.

Author info: Tram, H.

Solar PV Integration Challenges

Author info: Katiraei. F.; Romero Aguero, J.,

Southwest Power Pool EHV Overlay Study

Summary:

This EHV Restudy was performed to evaluate the affect of intensifying wind development activity in portions of the SPP system on the EHV recommendation that Quanta Technology1and PowerWorld developed in the previous EHV Overlay Study conducted in the spring of 2007. This EHV Restudy also incorporated recent decisions regarding the development of certain lines in the western portion of the SPP X-plan.

Storm Hardening the Distribution System

Summary:

When Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston, Texas, U.S., on Sept. 13, 2008, its Category 2 winds extended 275 miles (443 km) from the center. Behind Andrew in 1992 and Katrina in 2005, Ike was the third-costliest U.S. hurricane of all time, causing more than 13 million businesses and homes to lose power.

Author info: Brown, R.E.

Survey of PEV Impacts on Electric Utilities

Summary:

A Survey of PEV Impacts on Electric Utilities Ryan Liu, Student1; Luther Dow, Life Member IEEE2; Edwin Liu, Fellow IEEE2 Abstract: For the past few years, plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technology development has gained immense popularity. Recent studies show that if PEVs displaced half of all vehicles on the road, they would require only an 8% increase in electricity generation.

Author info: Dow, L., Liu, E., Liu, R.,

The Impact of Plug-In Electric Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) on Electric Utilities

Summary:

In mid 2008 the cost of a barrel of crude oil reached nearly $150, and gasoline prices spiked at $4.00/gallon. Petroleum prices have dropped recently, but most oil-industry experts expect that while the price of gasoline will fluctuate up and down on a seasonal basis, in the long run it will steadily rise. Growing global demand and a supply that will be, at best, static, mean prices will inevitably rise.

Author info: Phillips, E etc.

What Happens with a Lack of Long-Range T&D Infrastructure Planning?

Summary:

While that cynical humor is untrue, at least in the opinion of most utility executive management, there is one element of the comparison that many would admit is valid: the Boy Scouts have a map and a compass.

Author info: Willis, L.H. and Brown, R.E.

Books

Aging Power Delivery Infrastructures

Author info: H. Lee Willis

Distributed Power Generation: Planning and Evaluation

Author info: H. Lee Willis

Optimization Principles: Practical Applications to the Operation and Markets of the Electric Power Industry

Author info: Narayan S. Rao (Associate)

Power Distribution Engineering: Fundamentals and Applications

Author info: James J. Burke

Power Distribution Planning Reference Book, Second Edition

Author info: H. Lee Willis

Spatial Electric Load Forecasting, Second Edition

Author info: H. Lee Willis

Understanding Electric Utilities and De-Regulation, Second Edition

Author info: H. Lee Willis

Project Reports

Asset Management and System Reliability Group Review

Summary:

The Asset Management and System Reliability Group (AMSR) of Southern California Edison (SCE) has requested an independent review of its objectives, methodologies, and resources. InfraSource has accomplished this through a review of data provided by SCE and a series of on-site interviews.

Asset Management and System Reliability Group Review

Summary:

The Asset Management and System Reliability Group (AMSR) of Southern California Edison (SCE) has requested an independent review of its objectives, methodologies, and resources. InfraSource has accomplished this through a review of data provided by SCE and a series of on-site interviews.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Deployment of Utility Infrastructure Upgrades and Storm Hardening Programs

Summary:

The following storm hardening projects have been performed by Quanta Technology: Florida Undergrounding Study, Florida Electric Utilities This project performed a three-phase project for a consortium representing all electric utilities in Florida (managed through the Public Utility Research Consortium of the University of Florida).

Department of Energy: NASPInet Design and Specification Development, 2008-2009

Undergrounding Assessment Phase 1 Final Report: Literature Review and Analysis of Electric Distribution Overhead to Underground Conversion

Summary:

The conversion of overhead electric power distribution facilities to underground has been a topic of discussion in Florida for more than twenty years. The topic has been studied, discussed, and debated many times at the state, municipal, and local levels.

Undergrounding Assessment Phase 2 Final Report: Undergrounding Case Studies

Summary:

This report presents the results of Phase 2 of a three phase project to investigate the implications of converting overhead electric distribution systems in Florida to underground (referred to as undergrounding). The purpose of Phase 2 is to examine the costs and benefits of actual undergrounding projects that have been completed.

Undergrounding Assessment Phase 3 Final Report: Ex Ante Cost and Benefit Modeling

Summary:

This report is the Phase 3 deliverable of a project awarded in response to RFP #U-1 issued by the Florida Electric Utilities. RFP #U-1 was a result of Florida Public Service Commission Order No. PSC-06-0351PAA-EI, which directs each investor-owned electric utility in Florida to establish a plan that increases collaborative research to further the development of storm-resilient electric utility infrastructure and technologies that reduce storm restoration costs and interruptions to customers.

White Paper on Net Metering and Reliability

Summary:

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (“NCSEA”) has engaged Quanta Technology, LLC (“QT”) to assist them with technical issues related to Net-metering Docket E-100, Sub 83 open before the North Carolina Utilities Commission (“NCUC”). This project draws upon the collective knowledge, experience and expertise of several QT advisors in the areas of distributed generation, T&D engineering, T&D standards, electric system maintenance, electric system operation, and resource planning.

Author info: Don Morrow and Lee Willis