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G-PST/ESIG Webinar Series: Connect Faster: Improving Renewable Energy Integration With Modular Power Flow Control
September 8, 2021 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Connect Faster: Improving Renewable Energy Integration With Modular Power Flow Control
Wednesday, September 8 – 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (eastern US)
Featured Speaker: Michael Walsh, Chief Commercial Officer, Smart Wires
Webinar Abstract: Modular power flow control provides a uniquely effective approach to help renewable generation developers and asset owners address their most challenging transmission needs. The modern, power-electronics-based version of these devices, built upon decades of grid experience, helps balance network flows by pulling or pushing power through capacitive or inductive voltage injection. When new generation seeks grid interconnection, it routinely requires network upgrades to enable firm export of power. Under business-as-usual transmission planning strategies, these upgrades can be extensive because much of the grid was not designed for distributed, intermittent, renewable generation. Reconductors, substation refurbishments or new lines are all costly, traditional solutions that can take many years to complete due to permitting and other challenges. Yet significant latent capacity exists in most networks around the world, a recent study by the Brattle Group highlights how this technology can dramatically improve the scale of renewable generation integration in the Southwest Power Pool network. Modular power flow control has proven to help utilities plan and operate their grid to leverage this capacity, enabling new generation to be connected must faster and more cost-effectively – supporting regulatory targets while benefiting ratepayers and developers alike. In a recent deployment with National Grid Electric Transmission in the UK, modular power flow control enabled 1.5 GW of renewable generation to access the London metro area by increasing utilization of the existing transmission capacity. Solutions like this one allow rapid deployment scaling, in line with phased generation connection, further reducing upfront capital burden on developers. These standard offerings can generally be installed in 1 year or less, alleviating thermal overload-induced congestion to improve the financial feasibility of previously uneconomic renewable energy projects.
Moderator: Charlie Smith, Executive Director, ESIG
Registration Cost: FREE
Q&A Session: We will be using the slido platform for Q&A. Please submit your questions and follow-along during the event at this link.
About the Speaker: Based in Dublin, Ireland, Michael Walsh is responsible for Smart Wires’ global business development and commercial activities.
Prior to joining Smart Wires, Michael was Director of Future Grids at Ireland’s Transmission System Operator, EirGrid. In this role he was responsible for planning the transmission system on the island of Ireland and bringing new technologies into its grid development strategy. It was in this role that he first became familiar with Smart Wires’ innovative solutions. Seeing the potential, he decided to join the Smart Wires team.
During his tenure at EirGrid, Michael was a member of ENTSO-E’s System Development Committee, which oversees the planning of the European-wide transmission system.
Previously, he was Chief Executive of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) and a Board member of the European Wind Energy Association (Wind Europe). Other previous roles include Manager of market readiness at ESB National Grid, and Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at University College Dublin, Ireland.
Michael is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and a Board member of the Energy Institute at UCD.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering, MBA and Ph.D. from UCD, has authored many peer reviewed papers, and advised a wide variety of international bodies.
Michael Walsh has been Chief Commercial Officer since September 2020.
About G-PST Consortium
The chief executive officers of National Grid Electricity System Operator UK, California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Australia Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Ireland’s System Operator (EirGrid), and Denmark’s System Operator (Energinet) are champions in developing the consortium mission and activities. Importantly, these system operators are leading a Research Agenda Group to identify common, cutting-edge research questions that can inform large- scale national research and development investments. Relevant results and lessons from this process will be broadly shared for learning across all countries. The Consortium is also partnering with around 10 emerging economy and developing country system operators from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe who will also guide the G-PST vision and collaborate with the Consortium to advance power system transformation with a focus on technical collaboration, peer learning and exchange, and workforce development to support local PST priorities.
A core team, including the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG), Imperial College London, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Integrated Energy Systems, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), IEEE, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the Danish Technical University (DTU), and ASEAN Center for Energy, is actively developing the consortium and will be engaged in implementation of technical work as well as coordinating specific pillars.
International agencies and multilateral and regional development banks, including World Bank, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), International Energy Agency (IEA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and others are serving as key implementing partners to ensure the consortium complements and reinforces existing programs.
For more information on the G-PST visit https://globalpst.org/.