After what I’ve learned in the past year, here’s my pitch: we’re going about finding new grid capacity for clean energy and electrification all wrong. A thread. (And one caveat) #transmission #cleanenergy 
The switch flipped when listening to the @drvolts Volts podcast with @JasonTSConduct1 and Emilia Chojkiewicz. The current approach to high-voltage #transmission capacity is like building broadband with new copper wires and 56K modems. volts.wtf/p/one-easy-way…
The mind-blowing fact? Emilia’s disclosure that most U.S. decarbonization grid models assumed the only method of transmission expansion was building new lines, not using any of the available tech to expand capacity. Crazy!
Grid enhancing technologies such as dynamic line ratings and topology control software can expand grid capacity significantly (40%!) in a timeframe and payback period of months. h/t @kgm2pers2 volts.wtf/p/getting-more…
Reconductoring transmission lines can expand capacity 2-3x at a fraction of the cost and in a fraction of the time it takes to build new lines and towers. volts.wtf/p/one-easy-way…
We can also expand transmission capacity by building generation that conserves existing capacity. Wind-solar hybrids and distributed clean energy resources can serve the low-voltage side of substations and free up existing transmission capacity. ilsr.org/who-needs-tran…
Virtual power plants can serve local load and reduce peak demand, reducing transmission import capacity to cities and other load centers. Saul Griffith says local solar can serve 50%+ of needs in an electrified economy. volts.wtf/p/a-conversati…
And in case you’re wondering — yes, rooftop solar can do it cost-competitively with any other type of solar because delivery costs are basically zero. ilsr.org/investor-owned…
Our mistake is expecting incumbent utilities to solve transmission problems just because they own transmission lines. WRONG. Utilities are not transmission problem solvers, *they are the problem*.
With incentives to own infrastructure, utilities PREFER building stupidly slow, expensive new infrastructure for their rate base over fast, efficient, capacity expanding transmission upgrades. 4 examples:
Here’s what utility innovation looks like — lobbying for laws to preemptively own all new transmission in their state:
https://twitter.com/johnffarrell/status/1656396243990454277
Or utilities trying to preempt nondiscriminatory regional planning:
https://twitter.com/johnffarrell/status/1755248237739384928
Utilities subverting regional planning to build small, incremental “reliability” focused power lines to avoid competition:
https://twitter.com/johnffarrell/status/1628856801574764546
Oh look, former utility executives dominate the boards of “independent” system operators!
https://twitter.com/johnffarrell/status/1721617326456369481
A quick aside on permitting. Permitting is a stalking horse for fossil fuel infrastructure. @CenterForBioDiv covered this very well in their open letter to @POTUS biologicaldiversity.org/programs/energ…
My one caveat in my build transmission skepticism — new transmission that supports regional transfers. Reliability in a system dominated by variable production will be much better with stronger regional ties. If we build any new lines, focus on that:
https://twitter.com/ClaireWayner/status/1753177305134870616
SUM: If you are pro-transmission without also supporting serious structural reform of our #transmission planning and building process, without prioritizing upgrades to existing wires and distributed energy, then you aren’t serious about solving the transmission problem. /end
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