WREZ -- Generation and Transmission Modeling
Overview
The Generation and Transmission Modeling Work Group has two primary tasks: work with a technical contractor to develop a transparent and user-friendly model to enable load-serving entities, regulators and others to evaluate the delivered price of power coming from specific REZs, and; engage in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and sub-regional transmission planning processes to study transmission needed to move power from REZs to load. During Phase 1, this group will coordinate with other WREZ work groups on scoping of the model and necessary data inputs to the model. The majority of the GTMWG work will fall into Phase 2 of the WREZ project. This will include completion of the model, training on the use of the model and providing guidance to WREZ project staff to engage in the WECC transmission planning process, including sub-regional venues, in studies of transmission needed to move power from REZs to load.
Public Comments Received on Work Products (new)
Public comments were sought in February 2009 on a map that identifies load centers and transmission segments and a document that describes transmission characteristics. Comments will be reviewed and information on their disposition will be posted to this Web site along with the comments in April.
Assumptions and data were used by the Transmission Characteristics Sub-group to develop default inputs for the model, which may be modified by users to evaluate different scenarios. The inputs include transmission line capacities and capital costs, right-of-way costs, substation capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and transmission losses.
The Transmission Segments Sub-group created a map (click here for Load Centers and Segments List ) using information from many Western utility transmission experts that is a high-level representation of the existing bulk transmission system. The map shows the distance between representative segments and can be used to estimate the distance from Qualified Resource Areas to load zones when using the WREZ modeling tool. The map does not indicate proposed routes for transmission and is not a detailed depiction of every line in the West. Actual routes will be determined by transmission project sponsors and regulatory processes that are used to approve transmission projects.
Please Note: The data inputs listed above and the map will be used only to estimate the delivered cost of power, not to identify potential routes for transmission projects.
Membership
The Work Group has convened three sub-groups to provide technical input into its work. The sub-groups will communicate with other Modeling Work Group members to ensure that all perspectives are represented. Decisions within each sub-group will be made by consensus and in the event of a dispute, will be referred to the Modeling Work Group co-chairs and WGA for resolution. Each sub-group is comprised of 5-10 parties that are committed to assisting in the development of work product supplemented with active participants and observers who will be more peripherally involved.
Model Development Sub-Group: The sub-group will provide guidance to contractors at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Black & Veatch on design of the WREZ model including logic, features, inputs, and desired outputs and sensitivities. It will also provide feedback to the other WREZ work groups as to input requirements to be used in the model. Initial activities will be focused on model development, followed by validation for representative situations. A matrix of input requirements will be identified early in the process and distributed to the other WREZ work groups and sub-groups by September 2008, with model validation efforts completed by year-end 2008. Sub-group participants will include parties well versed in the use and development of resource selection models.
Transmission Segments Sub-Group: The sub-group will provide information to the Model Development Sub-Group on transmission system distance inputs to be used in the model. This is the distance from REZs (developed by ZITA) to loads using primarily existing transmission corridors. Sub-group participants will include parties with experience in transmission planning and routing.
Transmission Characteristics Sub-Group: The sub-group will provide information regarding the cost and operating characteristics of transmission lines to be included in the model. This is anticipated to include development of model input assumptions for capital and operating costs, capacities, and characteristics for transmission of various voltages,. Sub-group participants will include parties with experience in transmission planning, costing and operations.
Please contact Doug Larson ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) if you wish to join the Work Group or a specific sub-group.
Conference Call/Meeting Documents
September 18 Webinar -- WREZ Modeling Questions
Presentations at September 12, Model Development Sub-group meeting
Presentations at July 24, 2008 GTMWG webinar
Work Products
- Load centers and transmission segments map (pdf)
- Load centers and segments list for map (xls)
- WREZ transmission characteristics (ppt)
