N-2NSPML (BW) RIRs 1-22 - Redacted
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CONFIDENTIAL (ATTACHMENTS ONLY) 1 Request IR-04 2 3 Please refer to Exhibit N-1, page 5 lines 31-32, page 11 lines 24 to page 12 line 2, and Board 4 Matter M05419. 5 6 a) Please provide the actual annual availability (%) of the LIL for 202...
AI summary The document contains a series of information requests related to the availability and performance of the Labrador Intermediate Line (LIL) and Muskrat Falls Generating Station, including annual availability, forced outage rates, transfer capability, and flow data. It also requests the CIGRE Report and assumptions used in a regulatory proceeding (M05419).
rates of all other generating units to derive the LOLH expectation target. Based upon the Strategist ® analysis, the LOLH target is not exceeded until 2036 requiring additional capacity in 2036‐2037. To eliminate the hours of exposure to z...
AI summary The document discusses the LOLH expectation target and the need for additional capacity by 2036-2037. It evaluates the cost and impact of installing combustion turbines to mitigate exposure to unsupplied load during a permanent bipole outage, suggesting incremental additions over time as a more cost-effective approach.
RELIABILITY & AVAILABILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE HVDC ISLAND LINK Revision Nalcor Doc. No.: ILK-SN-CD-8000-EL-SY-0004-01 B1 Date Page SLI Doc.: No. 505573-480A-47ER-0017 00 10-Apr-2012 7 Table 2-3: Converter Reliability (Average 2007-2008) Out...
AI summary The document discusses the reliability and availability assessment of the HVDC Island Link, focusing on converter reliability based on historical data from 2007-2008. It highlights that while technological improvements may lead to lower failure rates, historical data is used for conservative estimates. The document also notes the difference in accessibility between the two converter stations, which may affect repair times.
Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) contributes 93% of grid storage in the United States and it is growing nearly as fast as all other storage technologies combined. - » Forty-three PSH plants with a total power capacity of 21.9 GW and estimat...
AI summary Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) dominates U.S. grid storage, accounting for 93% of utility-scale storage power capacity and over 99% of electrical energy storage in 2019. Forty-three PSH plants with 21.9 GW capacity and 553 GWh storage were operational, with PSH capacity growth from 2010–2019 nearly matching combined growth of all other storage technologies.
PSH continues to be the preferred least cost technology option for 4–16 hours duration storage. » Energy storage cost for 4–16 hours duration is even lower for compressed air energy storage (CAES), but there are only two CAES projects inst...
AI summary Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) remains the preferred least-cost option for 4–16 hour energy storage despite compressed air energy storage (CAES) having lower costs. However, CAES has limited global deployment (only two projects) compared to over 150 PSH installations, influencing technology preference.
Fifty-two gigawatts of new PSH is in the project development pipeline in the United States and over 50 GW is currently under construction around the world. - » Sixty-seven new PSH projects with a total proposed capacity of 52.48 GW were in...
AI summary The text highlights rapid growth in Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) development, with 52 GW in the U.S. pipeline and over 50 GW under global construction. It notes 67 U.S. projects (52.48 GW), a 31% 2019 pipeline increase, FERC's 2019 permits, and global PSH capacity (158 GW installed, 53 GW under construction, 226 GW in early development stages).
FERC relicensing activity is set to more than double in the coming decade. » In the past decade, FERC issued 80 relicenses for 6.9 GW of hydropower capacity and 6.7 GW of PSH capacity (17% and 37% of FERC-licensed capacity, respectively)....
AI summary FERC relicensing activity is projected to more than double, with 281 facilities (4.7 GW hydropower and 9.1 GW PSH) up for relicensing between 2020-2029, compared to 80 licenses for 6.9 GW hydropower and 6.7 GW PSH issued in the past decade.
Introduction Chapter 1 — Looking Back: An Overview of Changes Across the U.S. Hydropower and PSH Fleet Chapter 2 — Looking Forward: Future U.S. Hydropower and PSH Development Pipeline Chapter 3 — U.S. Hydropower in the Global Context Chapt...
AI summary The introduction outlines a report covering U.S. hydropower and PSH (Pumped Storage Hydropower), including historical changes, future development, global context, price trends, cost metrics, supply chain trends, and new policies influencing the market.
Table ES-1. Summary of updated and new content by chapter Chapter New content 1 • Relicensing hydropower and PSH activity in the United States 3 • International comparison of hydropower permitting processes • International comparison of hy...
AI summary Table ES-1 summarizes updated and new content by chapter, focusing on topics such as relicensing hydropower, international permitting comparisons, revenue data for PSH plants, hourly ramping data, and new FERC policies influencing hydropower.
Chapter 1 — Looking Back: An Overview of Changes Across the U.S. Hydropower and PSH Fleet AT THE END OF 2019, 80.25 GW OF GENERATING CAPACITY WERE OPERATIONAL IN 2,270 HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES5,6 — In 2019, the U.S. hydropowe...
AI summary In 2019, U.S. hydropower generated 274 TWh (6.6% of total electricity) with 80.25 GW operational capacity. Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) dominated utility-scale energy storage (93% of power capacity, 99% of energy storage). Capacity grew by 1,688 MW from 2010–2019, driven by existing fleet upgrades and new developments on non-powered dams.
NUMBER OF PSH PROJECTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE INCREASED BY 31% IN 2019 – Sixty-seven new PSH projects with a total proposed capacity of 52.48 GW were in various stages of evaluation or development at the end 2019 (see Figure ES-5). Mo...
AI summary In 2019, the number of Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) projects in development increased by 31%, totaling 67 projects with 52.48 GW of proposed capacity. Pennsylvania, Arizona, and California led in project numbers (11, 10, and 7 respectively). Three existing projects will add 119 MW, and 21 states have at least one PSH project planned.
U.S. PSH PROJECTS WITH FERC LICENSES At the end of 2019, three PSH facilities had issued licenses: Eagle Mountain in California, Gordon Butte in Montana, and Swan Lake in Oregon. FERC licensed Swan Lake in April 2019 with a capacity of 393...
AI summary The text details three U.S. PSH projects with FERC licenses (Eagle Mountain, Gordon Butte, Swan Lake), their capacities, construction timelines, and challenges like right-of-way negotiations. It also notes FERC's 2019 preliminary permits and the growing PSH development pipeline, with smaller projects increasingly using closed-loop and abandoned mine sites.
Chapter 3 — U.S. Hydropower in the Global Context GLOBAL HYDROPOWER CAPACITY REACHED 1,150 GW AT THE END OF 2019 — Eighty-four countries have more than 1 GW of installed hydropower capacity and the top six fleets (China, Brazil, European U...
AI summary Global hydropower capacity reached 1,150 GW by 2019, with the U.S. accounting for 7%. China leads, followed by other regions. PSH capacity is 158 GW, with the U.S. at 14%. The development pipeline includes 4,545 projects, mostly in Asia, Africa, and South America.
GLOBAL PSH DEPLOYMENT SLOWED IN 2018–2019, BUT PROJECTS IN PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION STAGES WOULD MORE THAN DOUBLE GLOBAL CAPACITY — From 2010 to 2017, global PSH grew by an average of 3.3 GW per year. In contrast, only 2 GW of PSH capacit...
AI summary Global PSH deployment slowed to 2 GW in 2018–2019, down from an average of 3.3 GW/year between 2010–2017. Most new installations were in East Asia (China, South Korea, Japan), Europe (Austria, Norway, Switzerland), and one each in North America, Africa, and Western/Central Asia. Figure ES-8 details regional distribution.
AT THE END OF 2019, THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE INCLUDED 284 PSH PROJECTS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 226 GW. Figure ES-9 summarizes the regional distribution of the global PSH pipeline. Thirteen countries were constructing 50 PSH project...
AI summary Global PSH pipeline had 284 projects (226 GW) in 2019, with China leading at 102 GW. North America invested $11.6B in R&U for hydropower/PSH, the oldest fleet globally. 90% of global capital expenditures target new plant development, with Asian regions dominating hydropower/PSH investments.
Chapter 7 — Overview of New Policies Influencing the U.S. Hydropower Market In October 2017, FERC announced a revised policy on license terms (for both original licenses and relicenses) in which the default term became 40 years. Neverthele...
AI summary In October 2017, FERC revised its license term policy to a default of 40 years, with flexibility for longer or shorter terms. The American Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) introduced an expedited licensing process for NPDs and PSH projects and mandated equal consideration of past and future investments in relicensing. States are increasing renewable and energy storage targets, which may boost investment in hydropower and PSH.
Table ES-2. State Energy Storage Mandates/Targets (as of March 2020) State Target Target Year Target Type Policy Document California 1,325 MW 2020 Mandate D. 13-10-040 Oregon 5 MWh (for each utility serving more than 25,000 customers) 2020...
AI summary Table ES-2 provides an overview of state energy storage mandates and targets as of March 2020, listing various states with their respective targets, years, types, and associated policy documents.
NSD new stream-reach development AWIA American Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 O&M operations and maintenance BA balancing authority PJM Pennsylvania–Jersey–Maryland BPA Bonneville Power Administration Interconnection CAISO California Ind...
AI summary The text outlines various acronyms and terms related to energy infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, including legislation, organizations, and technologies. It includes references to figures illustrating energy storage and hydropower capacity changes.
Note: in-state generation percentages do not include hydropower-based electricity imports from Canada. 1 A plant is defined as a facility containing one or multiple powerhouses located at the same site and using the same pool of water. A h...
AI summary The text discusses the distribution of hydropower generation in the U.S., highlighting states with significant hydropower capacity and the role of pumped storage hydropower (PSH). It provides data on PSH energy storage capacity and compares it with other energy storage technologies in the U.S. as of 2019.
2. Looking Forward: Future U.S. Hydropower and PSH Development Pipeline This chapter presents a snapshot of the U.S. hydropower and PSH development pipeline as of the end of 2019. It describes the following pipeline attributes: regional di...
AI summary This chapter provides an overview of the U.S. hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) development pipeline as of 2019, detailing regional distribution, project types, sizes, developer types, and project development stages.
2.2 U.S. PSH Development Pipeline At the end of 2019, there were 67 PSH projects in the development pipeline distributed across 21 states. Three of these projects had FERC authorization; all three are in the western half of the United Stat...
AI summary As of December 31, 2019, 67 U.S. PSH projects were in development, with three FERC-authorized projects in the western U.S. and three existing plants undergoing upgrades. 80% of proposed PSH facilities are in states with renewable energy targets exceeding 50%, driven by variable renewable penetration and energy storage demand. California, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia have set energy storage targets of at least 1,000 MW, with PSH eligible to meet these, though California imposes a 50 MW size limit.
3. U.S. Hydropower and PSH in the Global Context This chapter describes the existing global hydropower and PSH fleets and summarizes international trends in hydropower development as well as R&U to the existing fleets. This chapter serves...
AI summary This chapter provides an international context for U.S. hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) development, detailing global fleets, refurbishment/upgrades (R&U), and trends. It updates previous reports, separates hydropower and PSH metrics, and introduces new sections comparing international permitting and incentives influencing regional investment levels.
dropower Assets dataset, EIA; Other resource types and other countries/regions: IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics. Note: European Union includes EU27 countries. Labels refer to hydropower capacity. In 2019, hydropower was the largest ren...
AI summary In 2019, hydropower was the largest renewable energy source globally and in major countries like China, Russia, Brazil, and Canada. Wind surpassed hydropower in the U.S. and EU. China led with 326 GW installed capacity, while Brazil's Belo Monte project made it the second-largest hydropower fleet. Mature regions like the U.S. and EU saw slower growth, averaging less than 1% annual capacity increases from 2010–2019.
3.2 International Trends in Hydropower and PSH Development
AI summary This section examines global developments in hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH), highlighting trends, technologies, and policy frameworks influencing their adoption and integration into energy systems worldwide.
3.2.1 Development Pipeline by Region The global development pipeline by the end of 2019 includes 4,545 hydropower projects and 284 PSH projects with total capacities of 414 GW and 226 GW, respectively. Asia accounted for 75% of the combine...
AI summary The global hydropower and PSH development pipeline by 2019 included 4,545 hydropower and 284 PSH projects, with Asia accounting for 75% of potential capacity. China led in construction, while the U.S. and Canada had smaller pipelines with high attrition rates in early stages. East Asia dominated PSH development, with 104 GW in the pipeline.
RECENT ASSESSMENTS IDENTIFY VAST GLOBAL PSH ENERGY STORAGE POTENTIAL PSH accounts for approximately 95% of installed global energy storage capacity in 2020 (IHA, 2020) and its energy storage cost (in dollars per kilowatt-hour) is lower tha...
AI summary Recent assessments indicate that pumped storage hydropower (PSH) has significant global potential for energy storage. PSH currently accounts for 95% of global energy storage capacity and offers lower costs than many other technologies. Studies identify hundreds of thousands of technically feasible sites, with even a small portion of these potentially sufficient to support a fully renewable global grid. Researchers highlight the benefits of seasonal PSH in regions with high flow variability and suggest that PSH can have a smaller land footprint than conventional hydropower.
3.2.2 Global Hydropower and PSH Investment Global hydropower and PSH investment (planned and under construction) amounted to $1.1 trillion at the end of 2019. PSH projects account for 24% of the total. More than 90% of global expenditures...
AI summary Global hydropower and PSH investment reached $1.1 trillion by 2019, with PSH accounting for 24%. Asia dominates expenditures (73% hydropower, 69% PSH), while the U.S. and Canada contribute 4% of global hydropower and at least 20% of PSH investments. Figure 18 (IIR) details regional capital expenditure distribution.
4.1.3 Other Revenue Streams Detailed transaction data for a set of U.S. PSH plants in 2014–2018 shows that energy sales were the largest revenue stream; however, in a few instances, a combination of capacity payments and ancillary service...
AI summary Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plants generate revenue primarily from energy sales, but capacity payments and ancillary service revenues can account for over half of annual revenue. These facilities provide grid services like frequency regulation and voltage control, with revenue composition analyzed via FERC Electric Quarterly Reports.
4.2 Trends in Hydropower and PSH Asset Sale Prices Most U.S. hydropower plant transactions in the past 15 years have been between private buyers and sellers. Yet, the largest transactions in 2018 and 2019 were the purchases of 85 U.S. hydr...
AI summary U.S. hydropower and PSH asset sales over the past 15 years show private transactions dominate, though large-scale purchases by Canadian entities like Ontario Power Generation occurred. Average sale prices range from $42/kW to $3,400/kW, with notable deals involving Eagle Creek and Cube Hydro. Motivations include regulatory requirements (e.g., FERC-mandated mergers) and operational costs.
Chapter 5 U.S. Hydropower and PSH Cost and Performance Metrics
AI summary Chapter 5 focuses on U.S. hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) cost and performance metrics, referencing a figure that likely illustrates key data points. The section appears to analyze financial and operational benchmarks for these technologies.
5.1.2 Pumped Storage Hydropower For energy storage applications requiring short cycles and extremely rapid responses, battery systems are projected to become cost-competitive relative to PSH by 2025; PSH is expected to remain the least exp...
AI summary Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) remains the least expensive option for long-cycle energy storage through 2025, while batteries may become cost-competitive for short-cycle applications. PSH dominates U.S. bulk storage capacity but lacks recent projects, relying on international cost data. Future PSH deployment depends on advancements in competing technologies like batteries.
5.3.2 Pumped Storage Hydropower In 2017, gross PSH generation reached 22,867 GWh, the highest value since 2011. Both 2011 and 2017 were wet years. In 2018-2019, gross PSH generation was ~21,000 GWh. Regional distribution of PSH output has...
AI summary The text provides historical data on U.S. Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) generation from 2003–2019, noting peak output in 2003 (27,019 GWh) and a decline to 20,740 GWh in 2019. Regional distribution remains stable, with the Southeast accounting for ~50% of national generation. PSH output is driven more by market signals than hydrology, though hydrologic conditions still influence reservoir filling.
ting. When the units are rotating and not producing electricity but just spinning air (i.e., acting as motors instead of as generators), the units are in Condensing status. Figure 46 summarizes available unit hours and an hourly breakdown...
AI summary The text discusses operational data for Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) units reported to NERC GADS from 2005-2018, highlighting regional coverage percentages (72% in NPCC-RFC, 53% in SERC_FRCC, 56% in WECC) and limitations in data reporting from MRO-SPP-ERCOT. It emphasizes NERC's ownership of the data and restrictions on its reproduction.
ES are investigating the constraints (mechanical, hydrological, institutional) shaping the use of hydropower and PSH capabilities and seeking to align their use with the evolving needs of the grid. 78 Availability factors exhibit more seas...
AI summary The analysis examines seasonal variations in hydropower and PSH availability factors, highlighting hydropower's dependence on hydrological conditions versus PSH's ability to schedule outages. Data from NERC GADS (2005-2018) shows 28% of U.S. hydropower and 55% of PSH units reported availability factors, with PSH exhibiting less seasonal variability.
te: Natural gas includes the contribution from combustion turbines and combined cycles; however, it should be noted that a small portion of the fuel used by (dual-fired) combustion turbines is diesel. CAISO is a leading market in decarboni...
AI summary CAISO's hydropower provides significant ancillary services, including regulation and spinning reserve, even during droughts. Hydropower (including PSH) outperformed its capacity share in regulation and spinning reserve, while natural gas and batteries also contribute. Droughts reduced regulation down but not other services, highlighting hydropower's flexibility for solar integration.
6.1 Hydropower and PSH Turbine Installations Almost 12 GW of hydropower turbine capacity has been installed in the United States since 2010. Seventy-nine percent of the 291 turbine installations went toward R&U of existing hydropower facil...
AI summary The text details U.S. hydropower and PSH turbine installations since 2010, highlighting 12 GW of capacity with 79% focused on refurbishments and upgrades (R&U). Five major companies produced large turbines, while Consumers Energy led 41% of replaced capacity through Ludington PSH upgrades costing $800 million, extending the facility's life by 40 years.
6.2 Hydropower and PSH Turbine Imports/Exports For 2015–2019, the U.S. hydraulic turbine trade balance was very close to zero ($279 million imports and $263 million exports). In the past five years, the top three countries from which the U...
AI summary The U.S. hydropower turbine trade balance between 2015–2019 was nearly balanced, with China, Canada, and Brazil as top importers and Canada/Mexico as primary exporters. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule enables detailed tracking of turbine trade, though some small hydropower equipment lacks specific classification.
7. Overview of New Policies Influencing the U.S. Hydropower Market This chapter discusses policy changes that occurred in the past three years (2017 – 2019 ) that modified the permitting processes for hydropower or / and the incentives ava...
AI summary This section outlines U.S. policy changes (2017–2019) impacting hydropower, including FERC's 40-year license term policy, the AWIA 2018, EPA's Section 401 rules, FERC's PURPA modernization proposal, and state renewable mandates. These aim to streamline permitting, enhance PSH investment, and align with clean energy goals.
Note: For states in which the mandate is set through legislation, only one of the two bills (House or Senate) is cited in the table. Seven states have adopted energy storage targets, and many others are considering introducing them. PSH is...
AI summary Seven states have adopted energy storage targets, with PSH typically eligible but sometimes excluded due to target structures. As variable renewables increase, energy storage policy support has grown, leading to mandates and targets. Massachusetts has a Clean Peak Energy Standard requiring clean peak energy certificates, with energy storage eligible if they use clean energy most of the time.
s explicitly eligible in 6 RPSs (although typically only to the extent that the energy used for pumping water to the upper reservoir is renewable) and explicitly excluded from seven RPSs (Stori, 2020) 109 In Virginia, the energy storage ma...
AI summary The text discusses energy storage targets in seven states, including Virginia's Clean Economy Act and limitations on pumped storage (PSH) eligibility. California restricts PSH to 50 MW, while other states have early target years or small targets, making PSH impractical for compliance.
Table 5. Energy Storage Mandates/Targets as of March 2020 State Target Target Year Target Type Policy Document California 1,325 MW 2020 Mandate D. 13-10-040 Oregon 5 MWh (for each utility serving more than 25,000 customers) 2020 Mandate HB...
AI summary Table 5 outlines energy storage mandates and targets set by various U.S. states as of March 2020, including specific capacities, years, and policy documents. California has a mandate of 1,325 MW by 2020, while other states like New Jersey and Virginia have set targets for 2030 and 2035, respectively.
Some legislation and other state-level initiatives focus on PSH. Virginia enacted HB 1760 in 2017, which encourages PSH development in its coalfield region by authorizing utilities to obtain a rate adjustment clause for cost recovery if th...
AI summary The text discusses state-level initiatives and legislation in Virginia, Oregon, and California related to pumped storage hydropower (PSH). Virginia enacted laws to encourage PSH development and support research. Oregon passed a resolution to promote closed-loop PSH. California approved a reference system portfolio requiring significant PSH and battery storage by 2026, with specific projects highlighted.
8. External Reviewer Recommendations Regarding Future Reports As in previous editions of the Hydropower Market Report, this document has benefitted from significant review and input from a diverse set of external reviewers. Not only have r...
AI summary External reviewers recommended future analyses on hydropower R&D trends, unit outage causes, operational pattern changes, hydrologic metrics, and capital expenditure drivers. These topics aim to enhance understanding of innovation, reliability, market adaptations, and investment priorities in hydropower and pumped storage.
erhard, A., and R. Naude. 2016. "The South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme: A Review and Lessons Learned." Journal of Energy in South Africa 27, no.4: 1–14. European Small Hydropower Association. 2...
AI summary The text references studies and reports on hydropower, renewable energy programs, regulatory processes, and environmental considerations, including South African IPP procurement, European small hydropower, FERC licensing, fish passage in the Columbia River, Bonneville Power Administration's flexible assets, drought analysis, hydropower rights in Europe, and black start resources.
PSH Energy Storage Capacity For each PSH plant, energy storage capacity is computed as the product of its generation capacity (MW) and its storage duration (i.e., the number of hours it takes to empty the maximum volume of water in its upp...
AI summary Energy storage capacity for Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plants is calculated by multiplying generation capacity (MW) by storage duration (hours). Data sources include ORNL's Existing Hydropower Assets dataset, the Department of Energy's Global Energy Storage Database, and MWH (2009). For some plants, storage duration was estimated using reservoir volume metrics or assumed conservatively at 4 hours.
7.2 Uncertainty on the topographical effect on LIL design Lines are normally designed for two primary classes of loads (1) reliability class and (2) security class. Under reliability class of loads, structures and major line components are...
AI summary The text discusses the impact of topographical effects on the design of Long International Line (LIL) transmission systems, highlighting how wind speed-up effects in hills, valleys, and mountains can significantly increase wind and combined wind-ice loads on support structures. Current design standards like CSA 60826-10 do not account for these topographic effects, which can lead to increased risk of failure. The study by Bitsuamlak et al. (2015) recommends assessing these effects for specific terrain configurations.
NSPML Responses to Bates White Information Requests
AI summary NSPML is responding to information requests from Bates White, a consulting firm, as part of a regulatory proceeding. The document outlines technical and operational details related to energy generation, grid reliability, and regulatory compliance in Nova Scotia.