Power Delivery Systems of the Future – Designing a Flexible and Resilient Grid

The energy transition is driving an unprecedented transformation in all aspects of the electric power industry. Achieving the vision of a clean energy system requires modernizing and building the grid of the future to enable the integration of renewable generation, and distributed energy resources and electrification, while providing a reliable, resilient, safe, secure, accessible, efficient, and affordable service. This requires making cost-effective investments in foundational infrastructure, intelligent assets and systems, communications and information systems, and software solutions and applications, as well as developing innovative and agile processes. This also involves updating feeder, substation, and distribution system design practices, and utilizing new technologies and equipment to create a flexible and resilient grid that is ready for the new requirements set by DER and electric transportation adoption, such as bidirectional and variable power flows through service and substation transformers and significant load growth. This should be done proactively instead of reactively to prevent and minimize impacts and increase efficiency. This is a major and complex endeavor that involves meeting the requirements and expectations of multiple stakeholders, including customers, generation developers, regulators, policy makers, shareholders, etc. This panel session will discuss the initiatives currently being pursued by four electric utilities (San Diego Gas and Electric, LUMA Energy, Green Mountain Power, and Commonwealth Edison) to modernize power delivery systems. The panel will focus on key requirements for designing and building future power delivery systems to enable the adoption of inverter-based DER and electric transportation, while ensure climate change preparedness.