Transmission System Efficiency and Reliability Improvements

Reducing the carbon footprint of the electricity business and increasing the role of renewable energy are crucial strategy components for developing a sustainable electric energy supply. Achieving aggressive carbon-reduction goals while ensuring reliability and satisfying demand requires that transmission system owners and operators evaluate their systems for efficiency improvements. Contributions from transmission systems can be achieved through deployment of measures that directly reduce transmission losses, as well as measures that reduce CO2 emissions via increased system utilization, opening access on lines for providers to meet renewable targets and deliver energy from generation sources that are less carbonintensive, such as wind and solar. Increased utilization of the transmission system and of large amounts of variable generation also introduce potential reliability challenges that must be simultaneously addressed. Presenters in this panel session will address key initiatives that are being considered to improve transmission system efficiency and reliability to achieve sustainability goals.