Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Knowing exactly what circuits can handle and which circuits are arguably in need of solar power is like a treasure map. Error: Please call us at 1-800-752-6633 to complete this request. As documented in the Star Tribune, interconnection delays have frustrated Minnesotas solar developers. ComEd's electric distribution system is dynamic and ComEd will provide periodic updates to the hosting capacity map. Geneva, NY Pickering, ON The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. States that now provide HCA maps include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Register with an email address to update your login credentials. L1W3V4 14456 pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. Our Electrical Training Institute is a leader in electrical training, through public enrolment electrical courses as well as on-line electrical training courses and webinars. A legend can also be found in the top left corner of the map. Information for Developers of Renewable Energy. The Company requested that the Commission excuse the complaints from the Quality of Service Plan, a request that the Commission denied. Modeling experts could determine what those additional checks should be, the paper says. Each Township, Section, Quarter-Section, Sixteenth-Section, or circuit is color coded based on its maximum hosting capacity value. Whether you're a customer, contractor, or developer, our interactive Apply Now. 1 0 obj Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Xcel Energy (the Company) has been directed to complete its hosting capacity analysis in service of Xcel customers and grid stakeholders. Updates: Last updated in February/March 2017, with exception of Hosting Capacity map & supporting Portal documents. ComEd anticipates that the Interconnection Queue data will typically be updated monthly. For example, the 18 sections of Oak Park Township capacity range from 612 to 909 kW, and total 13,260 kW of photovoltaic power. Once the map is displayed, use the address search tool bar in the top left corner to zoom into a specific address. I was involved in various CPUC regulatory proceedings on these maps and made the same kinds of comments frequently. <> Computer Room Air Conditioning Unit (CRAC) Older equipment can cost your facility more money on energy costs and maintenance. Prior to connecting, the distributed generation system owner must obtain written approval from the local utility in the form of an Interconnection Service Agreement and subsequent Authorization to Connect. Beyond the pending integration into interconnection, California utilities have additional features on their hosting capacity maps that ILSR believes should be implemented in Minnesota. Your completed pre-application and associated fees (in the form of a check or money order, only; do not send cash) should be sent to the following address: ComEdAttn: Interconnection Services Department2Lincoln Center, 9th FloorOakbrook Terrace, IL 60181Email our Interconnection Team. The next step beyond ensuring accuracy and actionability is automating interconnection applications based on specific map grid circuits and line sections, with click and claim capabilities that link these maps with automated interconnection portals. Xcel Energy celebrates its reputation as a national leader in renewable energy with the nations largest community solar program, which gives customers cleaner energy options and more control over their energy use. This pride in marketing often doesnt align with the utilitys actions. Link leads to external site, Share to LinkedIn. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Hosting capacity analysis provides an opportunity to accommodate significant potential growth in distributed solar resources and ILSRs solar adoption model forecasts suggest that theres an urgency to action: within five years, distributed solar deployment could push the margins of Xcels hosting capacity. Xcel has not fulfilled the requirements outlined in the Public Utility Commissions July 2020 Order. uqJF$ E999/CI20-800. Californias process to incorporate hosting capacity analysis into the interconnection process began in 2014, so we understand that this will take some time. Ultimately, a published set of best practices for validating hosting capacity maps is needed, the paper says, so that stakeholders and regulators know if utilities are performing a comprehensive data validation effort.. DER hosting capacity is a function of resistance on any circuit Fact: DER hosting capacity increases w/nominal voltage . View interconnection queue information for all Distributed Generation or Distributed Storage Resource Projects. It divides the ComEd service territory into townships (6 miles X 6 miles). Share to Facebook. The Commissions July 2020 order, in response to Xcel Energys 2019 Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA) Report, found that improved and additional information will be necessary in future reports and provided the Commissions direction for future HCA reports. In this order, the Commission determined that Xcel should publish the actual locations of distribution system lines because giving customers and developers access to more precise data would allow them to make informed decisions about whether to pursue a project before investing significant time or resources into the planning process. Order Point 12 required Xcel Energy to do so in its 2020 Hosting Capacity Report. However, the interconnection process stands to gain much more from hosting capacity analysis. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has required that Xcel Energy, the largest electricity provider in Minnesota, conduct annual hosting capacity analysis reports since 2016.These reports identify where the grid can accommodate additional distributed generation capacity (including rooftop and community solar) and the results are displayed on the company's Hosting Capacity Map. endobj You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. The library zone below is used to load resources. Xcel could do more to advance toward the ultimate goal: delivering its customers more cost-effective clean energy by integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. % According to ComEd's description, "Hosting Capacity is an estimate of the amount of DER [distributed energy resources] that may be accommodated under current configurations at the overall circuit level without significant system upgrades to address adverse impacts to power quality or reliability." Additionally, government permitting procedures designed to minimize environmental and land use impacts are independent of our interconnection process and may limit the suitability of a particular site. Examples include new loads, undergrounding projects, new circuits, voltage, and reliability. The maximum (peak) load hourly profile curve and minimum (light) load hourly profile curve are plotted on a single graph along with the capacity (in MW) of the substation supplying that network. Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy pv magazine 2023, Welcome to pv magazine USA. As a solar developer and individual cheering for a strong power grid, few pieces of data are as useful as site data sorted by grid demand. The Commission should accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, but we submit the following concerns about the Report and suggest additional development to advance the common goals of customers and the Commission. Given the proper policies and incentives, like robust hosting capacity analyses, distributed solar development can serve as a tool for economic stimulus and increased energy justice nationwide. We strongly recommend completing the application process online, as ComEd is making an effort to reduce paper use and streamline the application process. We were flying blind. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Each township is subdivided into 36 sections (1 mile X 1 mile). Minnesota is one of seven states that require utilities to conduct hosting capacity analysis and present their results in a map resource. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. To smooth the process of integrating DER, ComEd is developing and implementing technologies, like a hosting capacity map, so stakeholders can make informed decisions about where to install generation, like PV, as well as technologies to accelerate the interconnection process for smaller quantities of generation. 1. The map sections indicate potential capacity by AC kilowatts with a link to to ComEds recently upgraded Interconnection and Net Metering homepage. The Commission should, after considering stakeholder input in Docket No. Seven states now require utilities to produce solar hosting capacity maps: California, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to Yochi Zakai, an attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, who wrote the IREC paper and represents IREC in state proceedings. #HViWPy;&)kkgg N?22Z/'QHn5PBgayqzYL*k$4798poGo+kn~V9X|,Fv1>dv3>#w]z#?w(KWpy@Ixgw\@32qVz.+Z:p:dCANg87p] yVz|&G rl;s FaaH\ W(x6_n a_W_$37&\Gs4rq! In practice, this is how it worked from a solar sales perspective: 1. You may submit your application for Level 1 Distributed Generation Interconnection or Levels 2, 3 or 4 Distributed Generation online. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Seven states now require utilities to produce solar hosting capacity maps: California, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to Yochi Zakai, an attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, who wrote the IREC paper and represents IREC in state proceedings. The interactive map displays the highest circuit hosting capacity at the: Township, Section, Quarter-Section, Sixteenth-Section, and circuit level. Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. Where applicable, ComEd will offer an interconnection agreement. 4 0 obj Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. For example, a recent 200 kWac project in Rhode Island learned when the interconnection application was submitted that no additional solar power was on either the local circuit or at the substation. o Customer/Utility information sharing portal w/maps showing DER hosting capacity & locations where EV . The Illinois Commerce Commission established Title 83 Illinois Administrative Code Part 466 (Electric Interconnection of Distributed Generation Facilities) to establish standardized applications and review procedures and agreements for customers wanting to connect generators of equal to or Less than 10 MVA in parallel to a utility's electric distribution system. In Georgia, solar groups last year called for state regulators to require Georgia Power to produce such maps. Solar hosting capacity is the gold to be found in these utility treasure maps. This data can be accessed by selecting a feeder or network on the mapping display and advancing to the associated data pane. Over time, a location may produce different circuit results. Utility National Grid operates in Rhode Island and illustrates local line capacities with its HCA map. But by the time the projects interconnection was returned, a 5 MWac solar project had won approval at the substation. For example, Minnesotas community solar program is on track to reach one gigawatt of generation capacity as early as 2022 and ILSR predicts the development of an additional 475 megawatts of residential solar by 2034. ILSR defers further discussion on this topic to Docket No. Log in using your email address if you've already registered. Our service area includes all of New York City, and Westchester County, located directly north of New York City. Its also clear that hosting capacity could play an important role in addressing timeliness in processing the interconnection of distributed energy resources. Why Minnesotas Community Solar Program is the Best, Feds Should Collect Better Data for Fairer Markets and Energy Justice. Be aware of your private generation configuration options and system limitations. That could potentially generate around 20 million kWh. Parts of the grid that are constrained are marked with red lines (the area around number 1), while parts of the grid with available hosting capacity are marked with green and yellow lines (the area around number 2). Read our policy. Questions? And the newest version of their Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA 20) maps went online as of December 28. Maria McCoy is a Researcher with the Energy Democracy Initiative. More recently, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the Clean Coalition of California have made large contributions to the maps. Xcel slows the adoption of cost-effective distributed generation. The substation capacity may also be supplying additional load for another network and/or radial load area. 742 Pre Emption Road This data is being provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the established interconnection application process. Granularity increases as users zoom in. For more on LSRV, VDER and the Value stack, visit our Private Generation Tariffs page. Minnesota solar companies filed 129 interconnection complaints in 2019. Computer Room Air Conditioning Unit (CRAC) - Older equipment can cost your facility more money on energy costs and maintenance. The watchword is actionable. If the maps arent actionable (b/c theyre not accurate) they re actually worse than useless. Apply Now. Solar hosting capacity maps, now required in seven states, show where solar can be added on a distribution circuit without incurring any grid expensebut only if those maps are accurate. An application fee is charged for each interconnection application submitted. Email us at BusinessEE@ComEd.com or PublicSectorEE@ComEd.com. In this role, she contributes to blog posts, podcasts, video content, and interactive features. pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. Going significantly beyond this amount would likely require a combination of upgrades by ComEds infrastructure, potentially higher interconnection costs and deployment of technologies like energy storage. The Electricity Forum (In Canada) We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Whether youre a customer, contractor, or developer, our interactive maps can help you identify potential sites for private generation. Here are a few upgrades you can implement to help you get started: Airflow management - Reduce energy use up to 20% by preventing cool supply air from mixing with the hot air released from IT equipment. Additionally, we have provided the peak substation load for the previous year. Your email address will not be published. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has required that Xcel Energy, the largest electricity provider in Minnesota, conduct annual hosting capacity analysis reports since 2016. What makes feeder locations a greater risk threat in Minnesota than in New York or California? endobj Southern California Edison's hosting maps contain a built-in function enabling users . If you are considering the option of connecting a generator to ComEd's electric transmission system, you must meet certain facility connection and performance requirements that are established to avoid adverse impacts on reliability. Developers can look at the map and predict where they might install a solar garden. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The analyses represent the overall feeder level hosting capacity only, and do not account for all factors that could impact interconnection costs (including substation constraints). Grid security is a vital issue, but we fear it may serve as an excuse to further delay the interconnection of distributed generation. . Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. New York States adoption of Reforming the Energy Vision is moving our industry forward toward a new and sustainable energy future. Hosting Capacity is an estimate of the amount of DER that may be accommodated under current configurations at the overall circuit level without significant systemupgradesto address adverse impacts to power quality or reliability. This map is one tool that customers and developers can use to help assess the available hosting capacity in a given general location. Southern California Edison provides one such example of a more thorough hosting capacity map that includes criteria violation values. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. For timely updates, followJohn Farrellon Twitter, our energy work onFacebook, or sign up to get theEnergy Democracy weekly update. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Solar developers take on module manufacturing risk. The hosting capacity analysis is conducted under current configurations. "The hosting capacity map will be stale soon after it's published," he said. For the Stage 2 displays, each circuit's hosting capacity is determined by evaluating the potential power system criteria violations as a result of large PV solar systems with an AC nameplate rating starting at and gradually increasing from 300 kW interconnecting to three phase distribution lines. Also, the map is taken from data as of a point in time and updated as of the date indicated in the pop-up display on the map, and therefore may not reflect current conditions in a given area. GwfaaLLI'U:gp*= G}.a[8. PG&E, after conducting validation work, conceded that the solar results were erroneous, says the IREC paper. However, ILSR feels there are three issues worth addressing in this docket: 1) Xcel slows the adoption of cost-effective distributed generation, 2) Xcel has not fulfilled the requirements outlined in the Public Utility Commissions July 2020 Order, and 3) Xcel could do more to advance toward the ultimate goal: delivering its customers more cost-effective clean energy by integrating hosting capacity analysis with the interconnection process. In general, this section applies to smaller generators (e.g., Residential Power Projects). Our new report details these companies rapid expansion, the growing resistance, and the pressing need for federal policy interventions. A decade ago, resources for scouting viable locations for new distributed energy resources (DER) simply did not exist. In reviewing the capacity values, you learn that they include minimum plus maximum levels and existing private generation. LSRV areas will display a status of Eligible on the Hosting Capacity map under LSRV Area Information. For more on LSRV, VDER and the Value stack, visit our Private Generation Tariffs page. If you are considering the option of connecting a generator to a utility's electric distribution system, you must meet certain requirements before moving forward. Error: Please call us at 1-800-752-6633 to complete this request. SDG&Es HCA tool allows users to see hourly changes in load capacity., IRECs recommendations apply to both solar hosting capacity and load hosting capacity. hosting capacity map can help you identify potential sites for the interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to ComEd's distribution circuits. We provide localized 8,760 hour forecasts to assist developers in considering the application of DER in our service territory. ComEd has assembled the answers to some Don't miss a single report, infographic, or podcast! It does not appear on display pages. Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. As of today, that big solar power plant is still pending, but the small one is complete. On April 7, ILSR submitted comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to recommend they accept Xcel Energys 2020 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report, recognizing a few caveats: Read ILSRs comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in full below. In Hawaii, the solar community helped Hawaiian Electricafter the utility cut off interconnection requests for a period of timeto develop a better understanding of hosting capacity on its lines. The Hosting Capacity Map shows a considerable disparity among communities in mile by mile sections with some able to host only 100-200 kWs to some with capacities of over 3,000 kW. To its merits, ILSR offers the following question to Xcel Energys refusal to follow Commission orders: as several members of the Hosting Capacity Analysis and Distribution Grid Data Security Workshop pointed out, both New York and California IOUs disclose feeder lines on their hosting capacity maps. The 8,760-hour forecasts are for informational purposes. See Xcel Energys hosting capacity map for Minnesota below. Remaining an early indicator of possible locations for interconnection; Replacing or augmenting initial review screens and/or supplemental review in the interconnection process; and/or. If you have more to contribute, please comment with a link. Multiple states require electric utilities to share their power grid data with solar developers. Required fields are marked *. ComEd will provide the pre-application data to the potential application within 20 business days after receipt of the completed pre-application report request form and payment of the $300 fee. The Hosting Capacity map gives an indication of how much generation (expressed in kW) can be added to a feeder before the feeder reaches capacity or other limitations that reduce the reliability of service to electric customers on the feeder. A decade ago, resources for scouting viable locations for new distributed energy resources (DER) simply did not exist. However, if the Commission does not apply greater pressure for action, hosting capacity may continue to be a largely performative exercise without providing tangible benefits to Minnesota stakeholders and electric customers. The Interconnection Queue Report provides the following minimum information for all Distributed Generation (Excluding Level 1 Applications) or Distributed Storage Resource Projects for which a queue position has been assigned: Each substation and feeder where an interconnection will be made is identified in the reported data by a unique index number assigned for the purpose of reporting interconnection queue information and not by any geographic or operational designation or description. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. This is necessary, because developer complaints have continued to the present. Solar tower of power shows benefits of vertical installations, Court rules that inverter sizing guides grid connection, California pulls the plug on rooftop solar, Retaining value for solar customers under California NEM 3.0 rule change, U.S. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Hosting Capacity is an estimate of the amount of DER that may be accommodated without adversely impacting power quality or reliability under current configurations and without requiring infrastructure upgrades.