Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA) Analysis

Non-Wires Alternatives (NWAs) represent investment alternatives and operating practices to defer or avoid traditional T&D projects such as  installing new wires and transformers, and is a key driver for future grid requirements. Quanta Technology experts have been leading the industry charge in NWA through direct collaboration with key utilities and our industry recognized thought leaders.  Quanta Technology has developed proprietary tools that are applied at both transmission and distribution level according to the following process framework: Develop forecast scenarios, benchmark conventional grid investment alternatives, analyze the costs and value of applied DER on an hourly basis, and perform benefit-cost and risk analyses.  Our processes and tools employ transparent models, allow for evaluation of different concepts and approaches, incorporate automation and computation efficiency, and work seamlessly with other utility planning tools. 

NWA-Energy Storage Feasibility and Benefits

The potential for energy storage solutions is great. The annual U.S. energy storage market is projected to reach 1.7 GW by 2020. As the demand for energy storage solutions grows in North America and around the world, there are still challenges. In some states, there is a wait-and-see attitude. Regulatory issues still remain. Storage is often pushed into classical G-T-D buckets. The technology itself is still evolving as are the business cases. Quanta Technology can assist in addressing all aspects of energy storage systems, from strategy to implementation.

Energy Storage Feasibility and Benefits

Determining the feasibility and benefits of energy storage, in conjunction with non-wires alternative (NWA) analysis, provides a real-world engineering analysis to assist with:

  • Close integration with commercial planning tools
  • Determination of optimal battery energy storage system (BESS) sizing against applications and stacked applications
  • Facilitation of renewable resource integration
  • Reliability improvement (grid stability services, peak demand curtailment)
  • Impacts of different ownership models (lease vs own)

Quanta Technology’s energy storage service offerings include the services described below, and they utilize tools to support feasibility studies, technology characteristics, load flow and other network studies, cost calculations, market services, and stacking of applications for optimal benefits.

Benefit-Cost Analysis

  • Techno-economic assessment of specific storage projects for various T&D applications
  • Energy storage sizing, siting, and financial analysis for specific applications

System Screening

  • Assessment of the entire T&D system to identify system-wide energy storage potential, considering both technical and economical feasibility

Strategy/Planning Roadmap

  • Strategic planning, investment, and integration of energy storage solutions for utilities, given changes in system conditions and regulatory requirements

Testing & Evaluation

  • Testing and evaluation of BESS controls and communications systems (BESSTI™)

Regulatory Support

  • Provide testimony and affidavit during regulatory filing
  • Review interveners’ comments and prepare response

Project Design and Development

  • Specification and engineering design
  • Project management

Why Quanta Technology?

Non-wires alternatives (NWAs) represent investment alternatives and operating practices to defer or avoid traditional T&D projects (e.g., installing new wires and transformers) and is a key driver for future grid requirements. The value of DER and storage has been formalized or mandated for examination in some jurisdictions. Quanta Technology experts have been leading the industry charge in NWA through direct collaboration with key utilities and our industry recognized thought leaders. Quanta Technology experts provide independent, objective, and practical advice and solutions with unique business, regulatory, and technical expertise along with best practice know-how.

Application in Utilities: Case Studies

Representative applications of our NWA expertise and methodology is summarized as follows:

ComEd: Locational valuation concepts have been developed, formulated, and prototyped; planning tool in process

Central Hudson: Locational marginal value (LMV) for sample feeders analyzed to be used in a locational market pilot; assessment of storage pilot projects as NWA; part of their DISP filing

National Grid: Development of Storage as NWA Planning Tool Suites for distribution and sub-transmission system

Dominion Energy: Assessment of storage as NWA for distribution feeders; regulatory filing support

PEPCO: Assessment of storage as NWA for capital grid project; regulatory filing support

SDG&E: Assessment of storage pilot projects under CED EPIC

Alectra: Workshop to use LMV for a pilot local market project

Ameren: Next-gen planning tool for locational valuation, capable of portfolio optimization and of thermal violation and reliability analysis of meshed sub-transmission networks

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