National Electric Transmission Congestion Study - W2agz.com

Simulation modeling to estimate
future congestion
The Western Interconnection congestion analysis
simulated the years 2008 and 2015. As noted, input
data for this study were taken in their entirety from a
separate, recent study prepared in support of the
WGA Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative. The
basic model of the Western Interconnection used in
the WGA study was developed previously by
SSG-WI for 2008. The loads and resources included
in the 2015 base case for the WGA study were derived
from recent integrated resource plans prepared
by western utilities. Hydro output is fixed
based on average historical conditions. Wind output
is also fixed based on the amount of expected capacity
in 2015 and information on potential wind power
production from the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory.
The model
The western analysis used GridView, a commercially
available multi-area production cost simulation
tool developed by ABB, to study future
congestion in the Western Interconnection. ABB
GridView is similar to the GE-MAPS tool used to
study congestion in the Eastern Interconnection.
Both seek to minimize the total variable cost of
Figure 2-3. Nodes in Congestion Study Simulation of the Eastern Interconnection
18 U.S. Department of Energy / National Electric Transmission Congestion Study / 2006