Register to Attend DOE’s Upcoming Interconnection Solution eXchange Webinar Discussions

September 10, 2024

Webinar series facilitates conversations on key solutions to interconnection challenges outlined in DOE’s transmission interconnection roadmap

On September 19th from 12-2pm ET, Berkeley Lab will host a webinar to discuss Goal #3 from the roadmap, the promotion of economic efficiency in interconnection. We will introduce key solutions related to this interconnection goal, as well as hear from panelists Tyler Norris (Duke University), Mario Hayden (Enel), and representatives from CAISO on different aspects of interconnection studies and transmission planning coordination, with a particular focus on the energy-only interconnection service (or “ERIS”). Register online: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a99aa6b4-2095-4b99-890d-6b299ae416d3@6b183ecc-4b55-4ed5-b3f8-7f64be1c4138

This webinar builds off the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) Solution eXchange platform that aims to advance discussion and open dialogue on interconnection issues via virtual meetings among diverse stakeholders across the U.S. electricity ecosystem. During Solution eXchange meetings, the i2X team facilitates discussions on interconnection challenges, knowledge gaps, and practical solutions. Find all recordings and notes for past events online here, and read on to learn about our future events.

This year’s Solution eXchange series focuses on the DOE transmission interconnection roadmap, which aims to address interconnection challenges on the transmission grid. Berkeley Lab is hosting a series of webinars where we take a deeper look at key solutions described within the roadmap.

Berkeley Lab kicked off this webinar series on the Roadmap in May, providing a high-level overview of the roadmap. In July, we facilitated a conversation on how we could improve upon data transparency in interconnection, Goal #1 from Roadmap. Future Solution eXchange meetings will focus on the three additional goal areas from the Roadmap (i.e. Economic Efficiency in Interconnection, Improving Interconnection Processes, and Maintaining Reliability). Find more details as well as registration links to attend these meetings, below.

Solution eXchange 2024 Meeting Schedule:

1.  Increase data access, transparency, and security for interconnection

  • Held on July 18th
  • Featuring Joe Rand (LBNL), Dr. Sarah Toth (RMI), and Dr. Kathleen Ratcliff (FERC)
  • Final recording online

2. Promote economic efficiency in interconnection

3. Improve interconnection process and timeline

4. Maintain a reliable, resilient, and secure grid

About i2X

DOE launched i2X in collaboration with Berkeley Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Sandia National Labs in June 2022 with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and to enable simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources while enhancing the reliability, resilience, and security of the electric grid. Since the launch, DOE has convened hundreds of stakeholders including utilities, grid operators, state and local governments, energy justice groups, non-profits, industry, and others for meetings that covered key issues, including queue management, grid engineering practices, data transparency, equity and energy justice, workforce, cost allocation, and electric vehicle charging. Learn more about DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange online and consider joining i2X to participate in future stakeholder conversations.

About Berkeley Lab’s Interconnection Work under the i2X Program

Berkeley Lab’s work on interconnection focuses on fundamental data collection and analysis that enhances the transparency of outcomes within transmission-level interconnection processes across the U.S. In our flagship Queued Up report, we compile and analyze data from the seven organized electricity markets (RTO / ISOs) in the US and an additional 44 balancing areas outside of RTO / ISOs, which collectively represent over 95% of currently installed U.S. electricity generation. Furthermore, we provide never-before-compiled data and analysis summarizing the cost to interconnection new generation and storage resources across six of the seven RTOs / ISOs in the US and plan to expand that data product to non-ISO/RTO utilities in the future. Berkeley Lab leverages these datasets and wholesale market expertise to facilitate important stakeholder conversations and develop novel ideas that could enhance interconnection processes across the country.