HOLYOKE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Under normal weather conditions, New England is expected to have sufficient resources to meet peak consumer demand for electricity this summer, according to ISO New England Inc., the operator of the region’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets. Tight supply margins could develop if forecasted peak system conditions associated with extreme hot and humid weather occur. If this happens, ISO New England will take steps to manage New England’s electricity supply and demand and maintain power system reliability.
ISO New England prepares short-term forecasts for the summer and winter seasons, taking into account estimated contributions from all resources, including those with and without an obligation through the capacity market to supply electricity; unplanned resource outages; imports from neighboring regions; and resource additions and retirements. These estimates help inform ISO New England’s planning on how to operate the grid during the upcoming peak season.
2018 summer peak demand forecast
This summer, under normal
temperatures of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), electricity demand is
forecasted to peak at 25,729 MW. Extreme summer weather, such as an
extended heat wave of about 94°F, could push demand up to 28,120 MW. If
operating conditions become tight under these circumstances, the ISO has
well-established procedures in place to maintain reliable power system
operations. These forecasts incorporate the demand-reducing effects of
about 2,700 MW of energy-efficiency measures acquired through the
Forward Capacity Market, distributed generation, and a reduction in peak
load of more than 600 MW that can be expected from the region’s
behind-the-meter photovoltaic installations at homes and businesses.
More than 32,000 MW of capacity is expected to be available to meet New England consumer demand for electricity. ISO New England employs a variety of resources to meet demand: generators that produce electricity, using fuels such as natural gas, nuclear, oil, coal, hydro, biomass, and wind; demand-response resources that reduce their energy use; and power imported into New England from New York and Canada. This summer, 1,630 MW of new generating capacity is expected to be available, including two new natural-gas-fired power plants and one new dual-fuel plant that total about 1,490 MW of capacity acquired through the Forward Capacity Market. In addition, five new grid-scale solar facilities are expected to add nameplate capability of about 90 MW, and two new wind farms will add about 50 MW of nameplate capability. (“Nameplate” refers to the maximum energy a resource could produce if it was operating at its maximum capability.)
Last summer, demand for electricity peaked on June 13, 2017, at 23,968 MW. The all-time record for peak demand was set on August 2, 2006, when demand reached 28,130 MW after a prolonged heat wave. In New England, consumer demand for electricity is highest during the summer because of air conditioning use.
Two major market projects will be implemented this summer, beginning June 1: full integration of price-responsive demand into the daily energy market, and pay-for-performance capacity market incentives.
New England will become the first US grid operator to fully integrate demand-response (DR) resources into its daily energy dispatch and reserves process, on a comparable basis as generators have participated. The ISO estimates that about 408 MW of DR will be available to offer to sell demand-reductions in the energy market. Because demand-response resources will be able to participate in real time in the energy markets, they will no longer be considered an emergency resource to be dispatched in shortage conditions.
Pay-for-performance incentives will be in effect starting June 1. The incentives will reward resources that overperform during shortage conditions on the regional power system, by requiring underperforming resources to pay the over-performers. The incentives were added to the Forward Capacity Market after the ISO observed a weak linkage between capacity payments and actual performance by resources during times of system stress.
Operating procedures to maintain reliability
ISO New England
has well-established operating procedures to maintain grid reliability
in the event of an unexpected power plant or transmission line outage,
an extended heat wave that results in increased consumer demand, fuel
supply issues or emissions limitations that affect the amount of
electric generation available, or a combination of these factors. These
procedures include importing emergency power from neighboring regions,
calling on reserves, and asking businesses and residents to voluntarily
conserve energy.
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ABOUT ISO NEW ENGLAND |
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Created in 1997, ISO New England is the independent, not-for-profit corporation responsible for the reliable operation of New England's electric power generation and transmission system, overseeing and ensuring the fair administration of the region's wholesale electricity markets, and managing comprehensive regional electric power planning. |
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