Non-Wires Alternatives - CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS NOVEMBER 2018 - E4TheFuture
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Non-Wires Alternatives CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS Load Management Leadership NOVEMBER 2018
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE REPORT....................................................................................................................................................................4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................................................................ 11 §§ State of the Non-Wires Alternatives Market......................................................................................................... 12 §§ Featured Case Studies.................................................................................................................................................. 14 §§ Case Study Overview and Commonalities............................................................................................................. 15 §§ Case Study Summaries................................................................................................................................................. 19 KEY INSIGHTS AND CHALLENGES........................................................................................................................................ 28 §§ Planning and Sourcing.................................................................................................................................................. 29 §§ Project Implementation............................................................................................................................................... 30 §§ Technology Implementation...................................................................................................................................... 32 §§ NWA Project Findings.................................................................................................................................................... 35 CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................................................. 38 §§ Areas for Further Discussion and Research.......................................................................................................... 38 APPENDIX: CASE STUDIES....................................................................................................................................................... 41 §§ Arizona Public Service (APS)—Punkin Center....................................................................................................... 42 §§ Bonneville Power Administration—South of Allston......................................................................................... 45 §§ Central Hudson Gas & Electric—Peak Perks Targeted Demand Management........................................ 49 §§ Con Edison—Brooklyn Queens Demand Management................................................................................... 52 §§ Consumers Energy—Swartz Creek Energy Savers Club................................................................................... 56 §§ GridSolar, LLC—Boothbay........................................................................................................................................... 59 §§ National Grid—Old Forge............................................................................................................................................ 63 §§ National Grid—Tiverton NWA Pilot.......................................................................................................................... 65 §§ Southern California Edison (SCE)—Distribution Energy Storage Integration (DESI) 1........................... 67 §§ SCE—Distributed Energy Storage Virtual Power Plant (VPP).......................................................................... 70 2 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: MAP OF TOP SELECTED NWA CASE STUDIES.............................................................................................. 14 FIGURE 2: CASE STUDY PROJECT TIMELINES................................................................................................................... 17 FIGURE 3: SOUTH OF ALLSTON 2017 SUMMER PEAK FLOWS................................................................................... 20 FIGURE 4: EXAMPLE OF HOURLY LOAD REDUCTION PROVIDED BY DIFFERENT NWA RESOURCES............ 21 FIGURE 5: PROJECT AREA, BOOTHBAY PENINSULA....................................................................................................... 23 FIGURE 6: SITING LOCATION MAP FOR CONSTRAINED AREA, WESTERN LOS ANGELES BASIN................... 27 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1: STATE-LEVEL REGULATORY PROCESSES FOR NWAs................................................................................... 13 TABLE 2: NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES CASE STUDIES BY PROJECT SIZE, STATUS, AND TECHNOLOGIES........16 TABLE 3: T&D CHALLENGES, DRIVERS, AND SOURCING............................................................................................. 18 TABLE 4: SUMMARY OF COST EFFECTIVENESS FOR THE TIVERTON NWA PILOT PROJECT............................. 25 TABLE 5: SUMMARY OF KEY INSIGHTS AND CHALLENGES......................................................................................... 28 TABLE 6: ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DEMAND RESPONSE: LESSONS LEARNED.................................................. 33 TABLE 7: ENERGY STORAGE—IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES............................................................................. 34 TABLE 8: SUMMARY FINDINGS FOR NWA CASE STUDIES........................................................................................... 36 NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 3
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES About the Report COPYRIGHT ABOUT PLMA © Smart Electric Power Alliance, Peak Load PLMA (Peak Load Management Alliance) is a Management Alliance, and E4TheFuture, 2018. non-profit organization founded in 1999 as the All rights reserved. This material may not be voice of load management practitioners. PLMA’s published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, over 140 member organizations share expertise or redistributed without permission. to educate each other and explore innovative approaches to demand response programs, price AUTHORS and rate response, regional regulatory issues, Brenda Chew, Research Analyst, Smart Electric and technologies as the energy markets evolve to Power Alliance represent a broad range of energy. Learn more at Erika H. Myers, Research Director, Smart Electric www.peakload.org. Power Alliance ABOUT E4THEFUTURE Tiger Adolf, Member Services Director, Peak Load E4TheFuture is a nonprofit organization advancing Management Alliance clean, efficient energy solutions. Advocating for Ed Thomas, Executive Director, Peak Load smart policy with an emphasis on residential Management Alliance solutions is central to E4TheFuture’s strategy. “E4” means: promoting clean, efficient Energy; ABOUT SEPA growing a low-carbon Economy; ensuring low- The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) facilitates income residents can access clean, efficient, the electric power industry’s smart transition to a affordable energy (Equity); restoring a healthy clean and modern energy future through education, Environment for people, prosperity and the research, standards and collaboration. SEPA is an planet. Dedicated to bringing clean, efficient unbiased, industry-trusted source for insights and energy home for every American, E4TheFuture’s knowledge on clean energy and grid modernization. endowment and primary leadership come from Learn more at www.sepapower.org. Conservation Services Group whose operating programs were acquired in 2015 by CLEAResult. Visit www.e4thefuture.org. 4 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The development of this report was the result of significant time and input from a large number of industry peers. SEPA and PLMA would first like to thank Steve Cowell and Julie Michals for their efforts at E4TheFuture to drive this important joint research effort forward. PLMA staff performed the work of soliciting abstracts, establishing the peer review team, administering the abstract scoring for selected case studies, and interviewing authors to develop case studies. This effort was led by Tiger Adolf and Ed Thomas. Case studies developed for this report would not be possible without the input from the following representatives: Alan Harbottle, Damei Jack, Matthew Chase, Arizona Public Service Consolidated Edison National Grid Tom Spence, Mark Luoma, Grant Davis, Arizona Public Service Consumers Energy Southern California Edison Lee Hall, Kitty Wang, Loic Gaillac, Bonneville Power Administration Energy Solutions Southern California Edison Sarah Arison, Rich Silkman, Polly Shaw, Bonneville Power Administration GridSolar, LLC Stem Mark Sclafani, George Cruden, Central Hudson Gas & Electric National Grid Beyond case study participants, this research effort also included input from a number of peer review team members and external reviewers: Bruce Humenik, Steve Fine, Jason Prince, Applied Energy Group ICF Rocky Mountain Institute Alexander Núñez, Andrea Simmonsen, Jeff Waller, Baltimore Gas and Electric Idaho Power Rocky Mountain Institute Frank Brown, Henry Yoshimura, Mark Dyson, Bonneville Power Administration ISO New England Rocky Mountain Institute Derek Kirchner, Jason Cigarran, Ross Malme, DTE Energy Itron Skipping Stone Rich Philip, Bill Steigelmann, Eric Winkler, Duke Energy Lockheed Martin Winkler Consulting Ryan Brager, Brett Feldman, Joe Peichel, Eaton Navigant Xcel Energy Ron Chebra, Ashley Van Booven, Dave Hyland, Enernex New Braunfels Utilities Zen Ecosystems Keith Day, Elizabeth Titus, Eric Smith, E.ON Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships Zome Ric O’Connell, Michael Brown, GridLab NV Energy Rich Barone, Ahmed Mousa, Hawaiian Electric Public Service Enterprise Group Additional staff at SEPA helped to review and develop this report: K Kaufmann, Maclean Keller, Tanuj Deora, Sharon Allan, Medha Surampudy, Nick Esch, Ian Motley, Maliya Scott, Chris Schroeder, Robert Tucker, Jeffrey Fromuth, Erika Tomatore, Kate Strickland, Jared Leader, and Sharon Thomas. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 5
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES METHODOLOGY In April of 2018, the Smart Electric Power Alliance nn Challenges identified and lessons learned: (SEPA) and PLMA (Peak Load Management How compelling or unique are the challenges Alliance) received funding from E4TheFuture encountered in any one project, and the for a study on the current status of non-wires resulting lessons learned, which could be alternatives (NWA) projects across the United shared across the industry? States. In particular, the goal of the study was nn Cross-sectional representation: How do the to identify 10 representative projects and share projects contribute to a well-rounded set of the lessons that utilities and other industry case studies representing different geographic stakeholders have learned from the process of locations, utility or project lead types, and developing and, in some cases, completing and project sizes? operating these projects. To select the projects, Once the 10 case studies were selected, we SEPA and PLMA issued an industry-wide call conducted follow-up interviews with the utilities for NWA case studies, and ultimately received and other project developers. The responses papers on more than 25 such projects, either in were put into a case study template, which was development or in operation, from across the then reviewed by the individual utilities and country. A peer review team of 29 volunteers project developers. This report is based on the scored the papers, ultimately selecting the original case studies submitted, and the in-depth 10 case studies with the highest rankings. information and insights gathered through the Selection was based on three key criteria: interviews. Available data (e.g., cost data and nn Applicability: How relevant to other utilities information on project challenges and solutions) and technology developers are the lessons collected through this process varied depending learned from this NWA project? How can this on the sensitivities and willingness of project project best inform utilities and be replicated? participants to share information. 6 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership Executive Summary In today’s electricity market, projects such as Con Edison’s Brooklyn Queens Demand Management CASE STUDIES (BQDM) initiative are capturing public attention and inspiring decision makers to examine the potential Case studies (listed alphabetically by utility or of non-wires alternatives (NWAs).1 As interest in key project implementer2 if different from the NWAs grows, industry practitioners are seeking out utility, followed by project name): more information and lessons learned from past 1. Arizona Public Service (APS)—Punkin Center and existing efforts. To help shed light on a broader 2. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)— set of NWA projects in the U.S., E4TheFuture South of Allston provided funding to the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and PLMA (Peak Load Management 3. Central Hudson Gas & Electric—Peak Perks Alliance) to select 10 NWA case studies and share Targeted Demand Management Program insights from these projects with the public. 4. Con Edison—Brooklyn Queens Demand Using help from 29 volunteer Peer Review Team Management (BQDM) Program members, the 10 case studies summarized in this 5. Consumers Energy—Swartz Creek Energy report were selected based on their applicability, Savers Club lessons learned, and cross-sectional representation (see Methodology for more details). These projects 6. GridSolar—Boothbay represent a range of technology and program 7. National Grid—Old Forge solutions, project sizes, and geographies. 8. National Grid—Tiverton NWA Pilot There are over 100 NWA projects in various 9. Southern California Edison (SCE)— planning stages today. They account for over Distribution Energy Storage Integration three-quarters of total planned and completed (DESI) 1 NWA capacity in the U.S.3 A smaller subset of NWA projects have moved into implementation stages, 10. SCE—Distributed Energy Storage Virtual and an even smaller set of projects have reached Power Plant (VPP) completion. The 10 case studies examined in this report reflect the early stages of NWA development across the U.S. One project is still in the procurement phase, seven projects are currently active, and two projects have reached completion. Across these 10 case studies, key lessons learned and challenges surfaced along three main categories, as detailed in the table on page 8. 1 Non-wires alternatives are defined as “an electricity grid investment or project that uses non-traditional transmission and distribution (T&D) solutions, such as distributed generation (DG), energy storage, energy efficiency (EE), demand response (DR), and grid software and controls, to defer or replace the need for specific equipment upgrades, such as T&D lines or transformers, by reducing load at a substation or circuit level,” (Navigant, 2017). 2 Key project implementer is the key project sponsor indicated in case study submissions. Most projects were led by utilities. 3 Greentech Media, A Snapshot of the US Gigawatt-Scale Non-Wires Alternatives Market, August 2017. Available at: https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/gtm-research-non-wires-alternatives-market#gs.lytvWGw. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 7
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES 1. Planning and Sourcing—A number of utilities, not materialize. These projects pointed to the during the initial planning and procurement uncertainty of forecasting load growth and the phases, noted the importance of having a deep benefit NWAs provide in substantially reducing understanding of their service territories and potential stranded costs from investing in grid conditions to help inform their program unnecessary infrastructure upgrades. and technology procurement processes. 2. Project Implementation—For the majority of Utilities use a “benefit to cost” assessment to the project teams, implementing the NWA effort evaluate NWA and other design options in meant navigating through uncharted territory. order to determine the least cost alternative As these teams tested out new technologies for consumers. In all cases, safety, reliability, and programs novel to utility customers, it was customer experience and affordability should necessary to plan for internal development, be foundational pillars for decisions on NWA reach out to local communities, and engage options.4 Utilities noted the importance of customers through a multipronged approach. building in more time for the sourcing process, Performance risks associated with new and the benefits of having an open and technologies justify the use of demonstrations technology-agnostic approach. and pilots to better understand performance For at least two projects, NWA opportunities and customer impacts, as well as exploring originally emerged as a result of high load mechanisms for prudent sharing of risks growth forecasts; however, load growth did between participants. SUMMARY OF KEY INSIGHTS AND CHALLENGES IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING AND SOURCING TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION Open and technology-agnostic Plan for internal development Launching energy efficiency first allows approaches can help with longer lead times for other DER solutions project success Procurement processes and Community outreach helps Demand response encompasses bidding responses require more overall reception and likelihood a wide range of technologies and time than originally anticipated of project success was met with varying levels of success across six case studies Uncertainty of load growth Recruitment and customer Energy storage implementation is a challenge for utilities engagement requires a has its share of obstacles, including: but a strength for NWAs multipronged approach siting, reliability requirements, interconnection, and system impact Know as much about your service challenges. These challenges territory as possible to inform are largely due to the nascency program recruitment of storage technologies Utilities often use a benefit-to- cost assessment to evaluate NWA opportunities Source: SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture, 2018. 4 Note: In many states, environmental impacts must also now be considered a foundational pillar for future investments. 8 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership 3. Technology-Specific Implementation— significant role in the varying levels of success Projects in this study included a mix of of energy efficiency (EE) and demand response technology solutions.5 Case study participants (DR) programs included in NWA solutions. For noted that different technologies, their six of the case study participants leveraging market maturity, and customer recruitment electric storage, the nascency of electric storage opportunities all factored into the varying and the inexperience of project teams led levels of success when implementing these to significant lessons being learned for this NWA projects. Customer engagement played a technology type. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS While the majority of case studies examined in Edison’s BQDM and BPA’s SOA demonstrated this report are still active or in the early stages of significant cost savings in implementing their sourcing, a number of high-level findings became NWAs in comparison to the originally proposed apparent: infrastructure investment. A major obstacle nn Successful delays and deferrals of and opportunity is overcoming the traditional infrastructure upgrades—The majority of rate-based cost recovery model and evolving the 10 case studies demonstrated success the utility business model to provide alternative in helping to delay or permanently defer revenue streams and incentives for utilities infrastructure upgrades. to explore benefits from DER technologies. It should be acknowledged that in many cases, nn Flexibility—NWA projects offer the ability this requires an update of the traditional utility to implement solutions incrementally and in compact and revenue recovery model while phases as load grows. This allows opportunities maintaining the commitment to providing the to approach load growth uncertainty flexibly customer safe, reliable and affordable choices. and help avoid large up-front costs. Central Hudson’s Peak Perks Program showed nn Cost Savings and Allocations—While many success with the development of a unique of the case studies were unable to report incentive-based compensation model rewarding cost data and analysis, projects such as Con both utilities and customers. AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH As interest in NWAs continues to expand, many nn NWA benefit-to-cost analysis (BCA) and new issues will require further utility research and incentive models for utilities; discussion, including: nn Beneficial electrification, its impact on the grid, nn NWA sourcing best practices; and the role of NWAs. nn Ownership and control of NWAs; nn Utility contracting benchmarks with technology providers and third party owners; nn Navigating multiple value streams of, and cost recovery approaches for, DERs serving as NWAs; 5 Case study technology solutions included: energy efficiency (EE), demand response (DR), rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV), combined heat and power (CHP), conservation voltage optimization, thermal storage, generators, electric storage, and generation redispatch. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 9
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES Introduction A significant shift is taking place in the electric be addressed before NWAs can become more power sector today. Regulators, policy makers, mainstream. and utilities are beginning to investigate and As noted in the Methodology section of this report, deploy alternatives to traditional transmission and the NWA projects discussed here were selected distribution assets—that is, building power plants based on their applicability, lessons learned, and and other traditional electric infrastructure as has cross-sectional representation. For each case been done for the past 100 years. They are instead study, key personnel at utilities and at third- looking at non-wires alternatives, or NWAs.6 party organizations shared insights regarding A number of factors have contributed to the planning, procurement, and implementation the changes now underway. The large-scale stages of their projects, as well as the technical and deployment and increasing cost-effectiveness regulatory challenges they faced. of distributed energy resources (DERs) is fueling The report is broken down into four key sections: interest in NWAs. Navigant Research forecasts global spending on NWAs will grow from $63 nn Background provides the history, a policy million in 2017 to $580 million in 2026.7 In review, and a summary of the overall state of California, New York and a number of other NWAs today. This section also includes short regions, efforts are underway to examine the descriptions of the 10 NWA case studies. potential benefits DERs and their use in NWAs can nn Key Insights and Challenges delves into provide to transmission and distribution systems. the key lessons learned and findings from the However, the growing interest in NWAs has 10 case studies. Insights are shared at the revealed a major gap in current knowledge, planning, procurement and implementation specifically, the lack of publicly available phases. information describing challenges and lessons nn Conclusion explores areas for further learned from NWA projects. To meet this need, discussion and research. E4TheFuture provided funding to the Smart nn Appendix provides the 10 NWA case studies in Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and PLMA (Peak their entirety, and resources for further reading. Load Management Alliance) to select 10 case studies of NWA projects and share information and insights regarding these initiatives with a broad range of industry stakeholders. For many utilities and third parties leading these projects, NWAs proved to be the testing ground for new technologies, programs, and methods. These projects challenged traditional utility business models and shed light on the legislative, regulatory, and customer experience barriers that need to 6 NWAs are generally defined as the use of non-traditional solutions (e.g., distributed energy resources) to help defer or replace traditional infrastructure investments (see next section for a full definition). 7 Non-Traditional Transmission and Distribution Solutions: Market Drivers and Barriers, Business Models, and Global Market Forecasts, Navigant, 2017. Available at: https://www.navigantresearch.com/reports/non-wires-alternatives. 10 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership Background While NWAs have recently become a focus of discussions across the electric power industry, the DEFINING NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES concept of non-wires alternatives has been around for over three decades.8 Earlier opportunities for Non-wires alternatives is one of several terms NWA development were often talked about as now used to refer to the use of DERs in place “targeted demand-side management” or other of traditional power plants and infrastructure. aliases, the objective of which was to offset Other terms include non-wires solutions (NWS) distribution investment. Bonneville Power Authority and non-transmission alternatives (NTA). NWA (BPA) started exploring NWA opportunities in the remains the most commonly used term, which Pacific Northwest as early as 1987 and has since is our main reason for using it in this report. considered over 150 potential NWA projects.9 To Our working definition of NWAs comes from date, however, BPA has implemented just three Navigant: of these projects. In California, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) developed its first NWA in 1991 as Non-wires alternatives is defined as “an a targeted demand-side management measure.10 electricity grid investment or project that uses non-traditional transmission and distribution Renewed interest in NWAs is taking place today in (T&D) solutions, such as distributed generation large part due to the widespread deployment of (DG), energy storage, energy efficiency (EE), DERs and the potential to leverage their multiple demand response (DR), and grid software capabilities. Efforts to reform the traditional and controls, to defer or replace the need for utility business model, respond to forecasted specific equipment upgrades, such as T&D load growth, and integrate DERs are leading to lines or transformers, by reducing load at a a growing number of of opportunities for NWA substation or circuit level.” 11 projects. In some instances, these projects are being driven by state-level regulatory processes; in others, utilities and other industry stakeholders are independently assessing and testing strategic, locational deployment of DERs. 8 Most utilities currently consider new technologies and applications through a BCA formula that considers foundational pillars of safety, reliability customer experience, affordability and more recently environmental impacts. 9 BPA, Non-Wires Alternatives to Transmission, 2003. Available at: https://aceee.org/files/pdf/conferences/eer/2003/Hoffman-CPAw.pdf. 10 The PG&E Model Energy Communities Program: Offsetting Localized T&D Expenditures with Targeted DSM, 1992. Available at: https://aceee.org/files/proceedings/1992/data/papers/SS92_Panel5_Paper17.pdf. 11 Navigant, Non Wires Alternatives, 2017. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 11
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES NWAs: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM VIRTUAL POWER PLANTS AND MICROGRIDS? The difference between NWAs, virtual power report is referred to as a virtual power plant. VPPs plants (VPPs) and microgrids remains a point of and microgrids also have the potential to reduce some confusion within the industry. constraints on existing T&D infrastructure and nn VPPs rely on software and advanced help avoid the needs for system upgrades. communication systems to aggregate, control, However, a distinction can be drawn based on dispatch, plan, and optimize a suite of DERs the purpose and goals of a project. The NWAs to provide services similar to a conventional discussed in this study were developed explicitly power plant.12 to defer or replace grid infrastructure upgrades, nn Microgrids are comprised of a group of while VPPs and microgrids are traditionally interconnected loads and DERs within clearly developed for a variety of other purposes. defined electrical boundaries. A microgrid can act as a single controllable entity with respect SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture look forward to to the grid, and can connect or disconnect from working with industry peers to align terminology the grid to operate in both grid-connected and to prevent confusion among stakeholders and “island” mode.13 provide clear distinctions between the purposes for each end use of DER technologies. Certainly, some NWA projects include VPPs and microgrids. In fact, one of the case studies in this STATE OF THE NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES MARKET Global spending on NWAs is forecasted to grow (GW) of cumulative distributed solar capacity from $63 million in 2017 to $580 million in 2026, in the state.15 CPUC’s guidance for developing according to Navigant Research.14 While some U.S. distribution resource plans (DRPs) requires utilities are choosing to explore NWA opportunities utilities to assess the grid impacts of DERs on their own, a significant number of projects are and optimize utility operations and planning the result of state-level regulatory processes and processes. public-private partnerships, as outlined in Table 1. nn In New York, the REV initiative is in the process Regulatory processes have had the biggest impacts of overhauling the traditional utility business in California and New York—states which have long model so that utilities will become distribution provided models for industry-wide changes later system platform providers.16 In addition, the adopted in many other states. REV has made utility planning processes nn In California, high levels of DER penetration more transparent. As of May 2018, New York have begun to cause operational grid issues. As utilities had 41 current and upcoming NWA of the end of 2017, there was over 7 gigawatts procurements listed on the REV Connect site.17 12 SEPA, Virtual Power Plants: Buzzword or Breakthrough?, November 2016. Available at: www.sepapower.org. 13 U.S. Department of Energy definition, https://building-microgrid.lbl.gov/microgrid-definitions. See also SEPA and EPRI, December 2016, Microgrids: Expanding applications, implementations, and business structures, www.sepapower.org. 14 Navigant, Non-Wires Alternatives, 2017. Available at: https://www.navigantresearch.com/reports/non-wires-alternatives; see also https://www.utilitydive.com/news/non-wires-alternatives-whats-up-next-in-utility-business-model-evolution/446933/. 15 SEPA, 2018 Utility Solar Market Snapshot, 2018. Available at: https://sepapower.org/resource/2018-utility-solar-market-snapshot/. 16 ScottMadden, California and New York Demonstration Projects, 2017. 17 NYREV, accessed 9/12/2018, available at: https://nyrevconnect.com/non-wires-alternatives/. 12 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership TABLE 1: STATE-LEVEL REGULATORY PROCESSES FOR NWAs CALIFORNIA The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved a number of NWA-related actions, including: §§ Providing guidance to the state’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) regarding development of distribution resource plans (DRPs) that “identify optimal locations for the deployment of distributed resources.”18 §§ Approving a pilot regulatory incentive mechanism that awards a 3-4% pre-tax incentive to utilities deploying cost-effective DERs that defer or displace traditional distribution investments.19 §§ Directing California IOUs to procure at least 150 MW of “preferred resources,” such as EE, solar PV, or energy storage resources.20 NEW YORK In 2014, New York launched a set of regulatory proceedings and policy initiatives known as Reforming the Energy Vision (REV). One of REV’s key goals is to incentivize utilities to leverage the deployment of DERs to address problems traditionally handled by new investments in centralized generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.21 RHODE ISLAND In 2006, Rhode Island enacted a requirement for utilities to file annual System Reliability Procurement reports. As part of this process, utilities have to consider NWAs. The state’s major distribution utility is also allowed to recover costs of investments in system reliability.22 VERMONT The Vermont Public Utility Commission enacted legislation in 2015 requiring the Vermont System Planning Committee to identify deferral projects when considering new transmission.23 MAINE The state’s Smart Grid Policy Act Directive requires regulators to consider NWAs before approving T&D projects. As of 2016, Maine has also designated a non-transmission alternative (NTA) coordinator to establish an independent investigator responsible for identifying cost- effective projects.24 Source: SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture, 2018. 18 CPUC Public Utilities Code Section 769 issued on August 14, 2014. 19 Decision Addressing Competitive Solicitation Framework and Utility Regulatory Incentive Pilot, Decision 16-12-036, CPUC, December 15, 2016. 20 Order Instituting Rulemaking to Integrate and Refine Procurement Policies and Consider Long Term Procurement Plans, California Public Utilities Commission, 2014. Available at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M089/K008/89008104.PDF. 21 Proceeding on Motion of the Commission in Regard to Reforming the Energy Vision, New York Department of Public Service, 2014. Available at: http://www3.dps.ny.gov/W/PSCWeb.nsf/All/C12C0A18F55877E785257E6F005D533E?OpenDocument. 22 Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, System Reliability Program. Available at: http://www.energy.ri.gov/reliability/. 23 Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, EM&V Forum and Policy Brief: State Leadership Driving Non-Wires Alternative Projects and Policies, 2017. Available at: https://neep.org/sites/default/files/resources/NWA%20brief%20final%20draft%20-%20CT%20FORMAT.pdf 24 Maine Public Utilities Commission, Docket No. 2016-00049, Commission Initiated Investigation into the Designation of a Non Transmission Alternative Coordinator, March 2016. Available at: https://mpuccms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Common/ CaseMaster.aspx?CaseNumber=2016-00049. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 13
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES The NWA market is still nascent, but the number to looking at non-traditional options. From their of proposed or potential projects is growing. perspective, it is an obstacle to look beyond current Some stakeholders see NWAs as a cost effective practices unless there are updates to the regulatory opportunity to help meet the power needs of compact and associated revenue recovery a region and provide environmental benefits. models that reward performance and establish However, utilities have long relied on traditional accountability for customer satisfaction. solutions. They may be skeptical and resistant FEATURED CASE STUDIES FIGURE 1: MAP OF TOP SELECTED NWA CASE STUDIES BPA—SOUTH OF ALLSTON ALLSTON, WA SCE—VIRTUAL POWER PLANT LOS ANGELES, CA SCE—DESI 1 ORANGE, CA APS—PUNKIN CENTER PUNKIN CENTER, AZ CONSUMERS ENERGY— SWARTZ CREEK ENERGY SAVERS SWARTZ CREEK, MI NATIONAL GRID—OLD FORGE OLD FORGE, NY CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC—PEAK PERKS PROGRAM MID-HUDSON RIVER, NY CON ED—BROOKLYN QUEENS DEMAND MANAGEMENT BROOKLYN, NY NATIONAL GRID—TIVERTON NWA PILOT TIVERTON/LITTLE COMPTON, RI GRIDSOLAR—BOOTHBAY PILOT Source: SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture, 2018. BOOTHBAY PENINSULA, ME SELECTED NON-WIRES PROJECTS Case studies (listed alphabetically by utility and 5. Consumers Energy—Swartz Creek Energy key project implementer if different from the Savers Club utility, followed by project name): 6. GridSolar—Boothbay 1. Arizona Public Service (APS)—Punkin Center 7. National Grid—Old Forge 2. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)— 8. National Grid—Tiverton NWA Pilot South of Allston (SOA) 9. Southern California Edison (SCE)—Distribution 3. Central Hudson Gas & Electric—Peak Perks Energy Storage Integration (DESI) 1 Targeted Demand Management Program 10. SCE—Distributed Energy Storage Virtual 4. Con Edison—Brooklyn Queens Demand Power Plant Management (BQDM) Program 14 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership CASE STUDY OVERVIEW AND COMMONALITIES The case studies profiled in this study encompass Table 2 provides a detailed list of each project’s a broad range of project types and characteristics: size, status, and technology portfolio. nn Project sizes include transmission-level NWAs Each of these projects has unique elements, based providing 100 megawatts (MW) of load relief, as on regulatory environment, service territory, and well as distribution-level NWAs ranging from 330 specific grid constraints and conditions. However, kilowatts (kW) to 85 MW. a handful of key commonalities became evident nn Status of projects ranges from complete, among many of them: currently active, and early procurement phases. nn Regulatory mandates played a large role in nn Technologies and programs include a mix over half of the 10 case studies. For projects of behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter in states such as New York and California, solutions. Behind-the-meter solutions include broader policy initiatives, such as New York’s EE, DR, rooftop solar PV, combined heat and REV and California’s DRPs, are challenging power (CHP), conservation voltage optimization, traditional utility business models and pushing thermal storage, generators, and electric utilities to look at ways to leverage DERs to storage. Front-of-the-meter solutions include optimize operations and planning processes. energy storage and generation redispatch. For a few case studies, direct regulatory (See Table 2 or Appendix). mandates came as a result of a third-party nn Results and Outcomes of these projects challenging a utility’s rate case filing and winning were positive for the most part. They commission approval to explore clean energy successfully helped delay or permanently defer and NWA opportunities. infrastructure upgrades. ALTERNATIVE UTILITY REVENUE STREAMS AND INCENTIVES FOR NWAs: PROVIDING CERTAINTY IN AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY For many NWA efforts taking place across environmental impact, reliability, or resiliency, the U.S., overcoming the traditional utility that potentially could yield more revenue compensation model of obtaining an established than a fixed rate of return (i.e., higher risk, but rate of return on traditional capital investments higher reward); is a major hurdle. Further, NWA projects require nn Utility revenue-sharing on NWA savings; more effort to design and execute than most traditional upgrades. In order for the utility nn Providing greater clarity regarding utility industry to be motivated to explore NWA ownership or compensation for NWAs, opportunities, alternative revenue streams and particularly in deregulated states, so that incentives, opportunities for demonstrations and financial compensation opportunities are testing, consideration of new service offerings more transparent; and clear understanding of procedural and nn Addressing concerns associated with revenue performance responsibilities are needed. Some opportunities in areas of the country where examples include: high levels of DR and EE investments already nn Performance-based regulation that could exist. This could be done by developing include some financial incentive, for example policies and regulations that account for these associated with congestion-cost management, limitations as part of the incentive design. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 15
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES TABLE 2: NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES CASE STUDIES BY PROJECT SIZE, STATUS, AND TECHNOLOGIES COMBINED HEAT AND POWER CONSERVATION VOLTAGE BACKUP GENERATORS DEMAND RESPONSE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENERGY STORAGE OPTIMIZATION GENERATION FUEL CELLS SOLAR PV UTILITY, KEY PROJECT IMPLEMENTER—PROJECT NAME PROJECT SIZE STATUS NOTES ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE—PUNKIN 2 MW, 8 MWh A: Q1 2018 CENTER BONNEVILLE POWER 200 MW Inc. A: July 2017 ADMINISTRATION— 200 MW Decr. T: Sept. 2018 SOUTH OF ALLSTON 100 MW Relief CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC— 16 MW A: 2016 PEAK PERKS DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM CON EDISON— BROOKLYN QUEENS 52 MW A: 2014 DEMAND MANAGEMENT (BQDM) PROGRAM CONSUMER ENERGY— SWARTZ CREEK ENERGY 1.4 MW A: Oct. 2017 SAVERS CLUB Thermal GRIDSOLAR— A: Q4 2013 1.85 MW and electric BOOTHBAY T: Q2 2018 storage NATIONAL GRID— 19.8 MW, In OLD FORGE 63.1 MWh development NATIONAL GRID— 330 kW A: 2012 TIVERTON NWA PILOT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON—DISTRIBUTION 2.4 MW, A: May 2015 ENERGY STORAGE 3.9 MWh INTEGRATION (DESI) 1 Storage SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA systems EDISON—VIRTUAL 85 MW A: Dec. 2016 applied as POWER PLANT (VPP) DR Note: Status indicates when project started. A: Active; T: Terminated. Source: SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture, 2018. 16 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership CASE STUDY PROJECT TIMELINES Projects’ timelines for NWA projects varied based For some utilities with larger portfolios of on the scale of the project and the technologies solutions or customer programs (e.g., DR and or programs selected to implement. For a number EE), the procurement process was an iterative of cases, a significant amount of time was spent one, occurring alongside implementation. ideating and examining the viability of an NWA Implementation was, in some cases, much clearer solution. Similarly, the planning phases ranged when installing a battery, whereas it took longer from four months to 38 months. Procurement when requiring customer recruitment for DR fell on average from three months to 11 months. programs. FIGURE 2: CASE STUDY PROJECT TIMELINES ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE (APS)—PUNKIN CENTER BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION (BPA) —SOUTH OF ALLSTON (SOA) CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC —PEAK PERKS PROGRAM CON EDISON—BROOKLYN QUEENS DEMAND MANAGEMENT (BQDM) PROGRAM* CONSUMERS ENERGY—SWARTZ CREEK ENERGY SAVERS CLUB GRIDSOLAR—BOOTHBAY NATIONAL GRID—OLD FORGE* NATIONAL GRID—TIVERTON NWA PILOT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON (SCE)— DISTRIBUTION ENERGY STORAGE INTEGRATION (DESI) 1 SCE—DISTRIBUTED ENERGY STORAGE VIRTUAL POWER PLANT 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 YEARS IDEATION PLANNING PROCUREMENT/SOURCING IMPLEMENTATION Note: Project timeline information and detail varied widely across the 10 case studies. This figure was developed with input from utilities to provide a high level picture of project timelines. More detailed project timelines are available upon request. *Additional notes: For BQDM, multiple programs contribute to the BQDM portfolio, and thus timelines for procurement and implementation are ongoing. National Grid’s Old Forge is currently in the planning and procuring phases. BPA’s South of Allston, GridSolar’s Boothbay and National Grid’s Tiverton NWA Pilot are the only three projects of the 10 that have been fully wrapped up. Definitions for timeline phases: §§ Ideation: The more informal period of discussing and exploring potential for NWA solutions to address reliability concerns, increased load forecasts, or deferment of new transmission and distribution investments. §§ Planning: The time involved in identifying needs of the system and developing criteria for a non-wires project and preparing for sourcing solutions. §§ Procurement/Sourcing: The time needed to develop, release, and conclude negotiations for proposals of a non-wires alternative project, primarily through competitive solicitation or a customer program. §§ Implementation/Construction: The time needed to recruit customers for EE and DR programs, as well as deploy new assets (e.g., electric storage). Source: SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture, 2018. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 17
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES nn Internal management decisions also played explore alternatives to large-scale generation or a significant role in NWA projects. A number grid upgrade projects. of projects came to fruition due to an internal nn Sourcing across the 10 case studies was management decision influenced by regulatory predominantly through direct procurement, mandates (e.g., CPUC’s preferred resources either single-source or competitive bidding pilot). Other NWA opportunities were primarily processes. driven by internal management decisions to TABLE 3: T&D CHALLENGES, DRIVERS, AND SOURCING UTILITY, KEY PROJECT T&D CHALLENGE DRIVERS SOURCING IMPLEMENTER—PROJECT NAME Regulatory Mandate, ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE— Thermal constraint Direct procurement Internal Management PUNKIN CENTER on feeder (competitive bidding) Decision BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION— Transmission grid Internal Management Direct procurement SOUTH OF ALLSTON constraint Decision CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC— Distribution PEAK PERKS DEMAND MANAGEMENT Regulatory Mandate Customer Program constraint PROGRAM CON EDISON— Sub-transmission Regulatory Mandate, BROOKLYN QUEENS DEMAND feeder constraint at Internal Management Customer Program MANAGEMENT (BQDM) PROGRAM substation Decision Regulatory Mandate, CONSUMERS ENERGY— Distribution Internal Management Customer Program SWARTZ CREEK ENERGY SAVERS CLUB constraint Decision Distribution Regulatory Mandate, Direct procurement GRIDSOLAR— constraint and Internal Management (competitive bidding, BOOTHBAY reliability Decision, Public Input sole-sourced) Distribution Direct procurement NATIONAL GRID— Internal Management constraint and (competitive bidding, OLD FORGE Decision grid resiliency sole-sourced) NATIONAL GRID— Feeder substation Internal Management Customer Program TIVERTON NWA PILOT upgrade deferral Decision SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON— Direct procurement Distribution Internal Management DISTRIBUTION ENERGY STORAGE (competitive bidding, constraint Decision INTEGRATION (DESI) 1 sole-sourced) Internal Management Direct procurement SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON— Long term local Decision with (competitive bidding, VIRTUAL POWER PLANT (VPP) capacity constraints Regulatory Mandate sole-sourced) Note: In a majority of case studies, NWA solutions were procured through competitive solicitations (e.g., RFI and RFPs). A subset of these case studies leveraged existing customer programs (e.g., EE and DR) to help meet NWA objectives. Source: SEPA, PLMA, and E4TheFuture, 2018. 18 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership CASE STUDY SUMMARIES APS—PUNKIN CENTER At Punkin Center, Arizona, APS was faced with the traditional option of rebuilding 17 miles of distribution lines over rough terrain to address load growth and consequent thermal constraints on the feeder. After reviewing the growing community’s needs, APS determined that adding battery storage could address the problem at a lower cost. The utility deployed a 2 MW, 8 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery system that has been in daily operation since March 2018. The Punkin Center project required high Source: Arizona Public Service, 2018. reliability, which led APS to plan the deployment and operation of the battery system to provide line. The success of the project demonstrates several layers of redundancy and flexibility for the capability of this NWA solution to serve the future expansion. Spares of critical items with residents of Punkin Center for a decade and long procurement lead-times, such as an extra possibly longer depending on the load growth. transformer, were kept on-site. The site was configured to connect a diesel generator in case BPA—SOUTH OF ALLSTON of a contingency event. In addition, the project Faced with projections of growing demand on its was designed with additional concrete pads for transmission system, BPA originally proposed the the future addition of battery capacity to meet I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project in 2009. At that load growth. APS also ran up against a number time, the plan involved construction of an 80- of challenges during the first operating summer, mile, 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line that would including the development of a battery dispatch stretch from Castle Rock, Washington to Troutdale, method for peak shaving, the impact of battery Oregon and cost more than $1 billion. This ramp limitations due to the Integrated Volt/VAR transmission project faced community opposition Control (IVVC) voltage control scheme and high and heightened legislative scrutiny due to its high feeder impedance, and operational considerations cost and local impacts. for reverse power flow situations. Overall, APS considered this effort as proof that cost-effective After taking a comprehensive look at the local NWA projects using energy storage can be impacts of the build-out and other project details, successful and should be in the utility planner’s such as load forecasts and project costs, the BPA toolbox. Administrator decided not to carry out the I-5 project and instead embraced a more flexible, Outcome: The Punkin Center battery project scalable, economically and operationally efficient successfully provided reliable peak shaving service approach to managing the transmission system. on the thermally constrained feeder during the The NWA project included two basic types of summer of 2018. The project proved to be a solutions: DR centered on a large commercial cost-effective solution for APS to serve the rural and industrial (C&I) end user, and generation community, compared to reconductoring of the redispatch.25 25 Generation redispatch at BPA consisted of bilateral purchases of incremental and decremental capacity from existing commercial generators to alleviate congestion by reducing power transmitted along a path and increasing the amount of generation closer to load. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 19
NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES FIGURE 3: SOUTH OF ALLSTON 2017 SUMMER PEAK FLOWS 2017 PEAK FLOWS 3,300 100 3,100 2,900 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT 2,700 60 MWs 2,500 40 2,300 20 2,100 1,900 0 JULY 31 AUG 1 AUG 2 AUG 3 AUG 9 AUG 10 AUG 11 AUG 22 AUG 28 AUG 29 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 HE15 CONTROL DAY COMMERCIAL TOTAL FORECAST FLOW ACTUAL FLOW POTENTIAL FLOW PORTLAND, OREGON TRANSFER CAPABILITY W/O REDISPATCH TEMPERATURE Note: HE15: Hour Ending 15 (the hour from 14:00 to 15:00) Source: Bonneville Power Administration, 2018. The South of Allston (SOA) pilot ran for two years CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC— and operated on a day-ahead, pre-schedule basis PEAK PERKS PROGRAM on weekdays in the summer months of July, August Central Hudson’s Peak Perks Targeted Demand and September to balance roughly 200 MW of Management Program was designed in increased generation south of the transmission conjunction with the New York Public Service line and 200 MW of reduced load north of the line Commission’s REV initiative. The program seeks to reduce transmission constraints. to defer the need for new infrastructure in three Outcome: The SOA project met BPA’s original targeted zones for five to 10 years, reduce future objective to demonstrate that flows across SOA bill pressure for customers, and create additional can be reduced during summer peak periods earnings opportunities for the utility. through bilateral contracts. The 2017-2018 SOA The program consists of residential direct-load project expenses were each within the $5 million control using two-way Wi-Fi thermostats and per year transmission budget amount (compared one-way load control switches. A special initiative to the originally proposed $1 billion transmission focused on industrial facilities and others that line). BPA plans to leverage lessons learned from could make curtailment commitments and shut the SOA Pilot to inform future longer-term, non- down their facilities when needed. Residential wires program plans. customers with electric generators fueled by propane and natural gas also received annual payments to switch to their generators during 20 E4THEFUTURE | PLMA | SEPA
Load Management Leadership peak events. Itron provided participant recruitment to 52 MW of traditional and non-traditional and program administration support, as well as resources. This project was designed to help delay its cloud-based IntelliSOURCE software as the the construction of a new substation beyond initial foundation for the project. load relief projections. This project on its own has Outcome: In the first six months of the program, been a driver and leader for NWAs as other utilities Central Hudson achieved over 30% participation and regulators learn more about the benefits of eligible customers within Fishkill, the targeted resulting from this project and begin to explore zone with the greatest capacity need. The utility opportunities themselves. also exceeded the total first-year MW target for all Con Edison’s traditional approach to potential three zones, achieving 5.9 MW of load reduction overload conditions would have been to construct compared to the original target of 5.3 MW. a new area substation, establish a new switching station, and construct sub-transmission feeders. CON EDISON—BROOKLYN QUEENS Instead, Con Edison filed a petition with the New DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM York Public Service Commission in July 2014 The Brooklyn Queens Demand Management proposing to implement the BQDM Program, Program (BQDM) is one of the largest and most which would consist of 11 MW of non-traditional well-known NWA projects in the U.S, with close utility-side solutions and 41 MW of traditional FIGURE 4: EXAMPLE OF HOURLY LOAD REDUCTION PROVIDED BY DIFFERENT NWA RESOURCES 70 60 50 PEAK LOAD, MW 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 TIME OF DAY, HOUR ENDING ENERGY NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTIAL FUEL STORAGE AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HOUSING AUTHORITY LIGHTING PROGRAM CELLS COMBINED HEAT AND POWER MULTI-FAMILY ENERGY COMMERCIAL UTILITY-SIDED FORECASTED EFFICIENCY ADDER PROGRAM DIRECT INSTALL SOLUTIONS NEED 2018 Source: Con Edison, 2018. NON-WIRES ALTERNATIVES: CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING U.S. PROJECTS 21
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