wiredinUSA October 2015

INDEX

Wind projects in the Midwest can generate power at 1.5 cents to 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. Yet while these regions are sometimes curtailing wind, or are limited by transmission capacity, other regional grids are short of power. Demand is being driven by renewable portfolio standards, the Clean Power Plan, and the retirement of 50GW worth of coal power. The problem is how to move cheap wind power, cheaply. Founder and president of Clean Line Energy, Michael Skelly, wants to connect low cost wind resources to major demand points. He believes that transmission is the key ingredient to getting more renewable energy on-line. Skelly says: "We believe that an independent [company] is suited for the job,” suggesting that most utilities are mandated to meet local needs and are not thinking of the challenge of interstate transmission. Despite the dominance of alternating current on national grids, direct current is a more efficient way to move power over long distances, with about half the line losses and less infrastructure than a comparable AC system. Skelly suggests that DC, unlike AC, “Allows complete control of power flow and prevents cascading outages.” A Clean Line ±600kV DC bi-pole transmission line will have a 3,000MW to 4,000MW capacity. The company founder is claiming an all-in delivered cost of “About 2 cents per kilowatt-hour to get to market." Clean Line is backed by National Grid, Ziff Brothers Investments and Bluescape Resources.

Power to get moving?

Clean Line Energy aims to develop long distance HVDC transmission lines to carry cheap renewable power and still allow competitive pricing at delivery.

wiredInUSA - October 2015 ire In - Oct er 2015

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