Tag – Northwest-power-supply

Emerging technologies could reshape the way electricity is generated in the Pacific Northwest in the future, although major questions linger on their costs and timelines to commercial viability. Because these supply-side emerging technologies could play important roles in the future grid, the Council heard a briefing about three options at its February meeting in Portland.

Power Division staff are using a suite of advanced, innovative computer modeling tools as well as statistical methods to glean insights, test, and analyze future potential buildouts of the Northwest’s electricity grid over the next two decades. At February’s Council meeting, staff provided a primer on their modeling tools and statistical methods, as well as the type of data that will be available once modeling is completed this spring.

At October’s Council meeting in Donnelly, Idaho, Power Division staff presented results of a new needs assessment that examines a simulation of the Northwest power system in 2031 under intentionally limited circumstances.

Electric cooperatives serving rural communities in the Northwest are grappling with projected future gaps between forecasted load growth and resources to meet those energy needs. Experts with Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho Power shared about their work to expand the capacity of transmission systems through grid-enhancing technologies.

At the August meeting in Portland, Power Division staff outlined methods for evaluating the potential for advancements in energy efficiency to include in the energy efficiency supply curves for the Ninth Plan. The Ninth Power Plan will cover the period from 2026-2046, and ensure that the Pacific Northwest’s power system continues to be adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable over those 20 years.

At the Council’s June meeting in Missoula, Power Planning Director Jennifer Light gave an update on the process of developing the Ninth Plan while noting that a key milestone has been reached. She also led a discussion of a hydro operations scenario, and Power Division staff presented the preliminary, total potential for energy efficiency and demand response for the Ninth Plan.

At the June meeting held in Missoula, the Council heard presentations from representatives of electric co-operatives serving rural communities in western Montana, about the status of operations at Libby and Hungry Horse Dams, and about the Ice Age flooding that swept through the Columbia River Basin thousands of years ago.

At its March 12 meeting, the Council heard additional briefings on the 2014/2020 Fish and Wildlife Program as the deadline nears for state and federal agencies, tribes, NGOs, the public, and more to submit recommendations.

When you need to see in the dark, which will illuminate the terrain better – a flashlight or an aerial flare? This spring, Council Power Division staff will be using the latter approach to produce new 20-year load forecasts for the future of the Pacific Northwest’s power system.