EnergyRE looks to expand New York offshore wind ambitions with transmission play
Partner in massive 2.4GW Leading Light array has entered bids into state's latest round under flexible grid expansion rules
New York-based energyRE announced it has pitched multiple bids into the state’s latest Public Policy Transmission Need (PPTN) solicitation seeking to integrate up to 8GW of offshore wind power into New York City's grid.
New York Independent Systems Operator (NYISO), which manages the flow of power in the state, is looking to inject at least 4.7GW of offshore wind power with options to expand to 8GW into New York City's transmission system in accordance with the state's 9GW by 2035 sector mandate.
Like New Jersey’s State Agreement Approach (SAA), the New York City (NYC) PPTN tender allows public policy goals to carry equal weight to need, cost, and reliability for grid expansion.
“New transmission is essential for the reliable deployment of offshore wind, and energyRe is ready to modernise New York's electric grid in support of the state's clean energy goals,” said Ryan Brown, chief operating officer of energyRe.
EnergyRE said its proposals accommodate varying levels of offshore wind injection from wind energy lease areas in the New York Bight and off the coast of Massachusetts.
Transmission in New York City is challenged by dense population of over 8 million in a limited geography that requires most transmission lines to be underground, constraining the capacity of 345kV lines to 750MW, compared to 1.8GW for similar above ground cables, according to documents from utility Con Edison.
The city also has few points of interconnection for offshore wind arrays to make landfall. Awarded projects in the tender are expected to be in service by 2033.
This is NYISO’s latest offshore wind transmission tender following Long Island PPTN awarded last year to bring 3GW from the island to NYC.
The $3.26bn Propel Alternate Solution 5, a joint venture of state-owned utility New York Power Authority and transmission developer New York Transco, will add three new underground cables connecting Long Island with the rest of the state and a 345kV transmission backbone across western/central Long Island. The project is required to be in-service by May 2030.
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