Interconnection Cost Analysis in the PJM Territory

Seel, Joachim; Rand, Joseph; Gorman, Will; Millstein, Dev; Wiser, Ryan H.; Cotton, Will; Fisher, Katherine; Kuykendall, Olivia; Weissfeld, Ari; Porter, Kevin

doi:10.2172/1922201

DOE OSTI · 1922201

Interconnection Cost Analysis in the PJM Territory

Seel, Joachim·Rand, Joseph·Gorman, Will·Millstein, Dev·Wiser, Ryan H.·Cotton, Will·Fisher, Katherine·Kuykendall, Olivia·Weissfeld, Ari·Porter, Kevin

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Abstract

Electric transmission system operators (ISOs, RTOs, or utilities) require new large generators seeking to connect to the grid to undergo a series of impact studies before they can be built. This process establishes what new transmission equipment or upgrades may be needed before a project can connect to the system and assigns the costs of that equipment. Berkeley Lab has collected interconnection cost data from interconnection studies for the PJM Territory, representing nearly 86% of all new unique generators requesting interconnection from 2000 to 2022. Project-level cost summary data are available for download on this page. We find: -Average interconnection costs have grown as the number of interconnection requests have escalated -Projects that have completed all required interconnection studies have the lowest cost compared to applicants still actively working through the interconnection process or those that have withdrawn. -Broader network upgrade costs are the primary driver of recent cost increase. -Potential interconnection costs for wind, storage, and solar are larger than for natural gas -Larger generators have greater interconnection costs in absolute terms, but economies of scale exist on a per kW basis. -Interconnection costs vary by location Berkeley Lab will publish a series of short analytical papers of generator interconnection costs to the transmission system for MISO, PJM, SPP, ISO-NE and NYISO, which you can find at https://emp.lbl.gov/interconnection_costs.

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Seel, Joachim, Rand, Joseph, Gorman, Will, Millstein, Dev, Wiser, Ryan H., Cotton, Will, Fisher, Katherine, Kuykendall, Olivia, Weissfeld, Ari, Porter, Kevin. 2023-01-26. Interconnection Cost Analysis in the PJM Territory. https://doi.org/10.2172/1922201

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