Smart Grid, Solar Energy Innovations Thrive in NYISO

The economic and environmental benefits keep coming for consumers in New York’s organized markets. Following recent news that prices fell 49 percent across the New York ISO (NYSIO) market, several new announcements reiterate that competition encourages the innovative solutions required to meet America’s electricity needs and environmental objectives.

Early this week, NYISO announced it signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop innovative smart grid technologies on New York’s power grid. The agreement will use nearly $40 million from DOE to support a $76 million project enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the state’s grid. NYISO is working with all eight transmission owners across the state on implementation to deploy a statewide phasor measurement network and capacity banks across the state. Phasor technology transmits data 60 times every second to detect system vulnerabilities and avoid blackouts, while capacitors reduce the amount of energy lost during transmission and increase system efficiency.

But innovation in New York does not stop with the smart grid. Already ranked eighth nationally in wind power with 1,274 megawatts (MW) installed wind capacity, two new projects would also make the state a national leader in solar power. The New York Power Authority recently announced a public-private partnership to install 100 MW of solar photovoltaic systems. Combined with an earlier-announced 50 MW solar project, the state would rank second in the country in installed solar capacity.

Results like these prove once again the unique characteristics of organized competitive electricity markets enable clean energy to thrive. “NYISO’s planning, grid operations and market design work in unison to provide a foundation for reliability while facilitating the integration of renewable resources into the power system,” said Stephen Whitley, NYISO president and CEO.

Joel Malina | May 14, 2010