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The Eastern Interconnection is one of the two major alternating-current (AC) electrical grids in the North American power transmission grid. The other major interconnection is the Western Interconnection. The three minor interconnections are the Quebec, Alaska, and Texas interconnections.
All of the electric utilities in the Eastern Interconnection are electrically tied together during normal system conditions and operate at a synchronized frequency at an average of 60 Hz. The Eastern Interconnection reaches from Central Canada eastward to the Atlantic coast (excluding Quebec), south to Florida, and back to the western Great Plains (excluding most of Texas).
Interconnections can be tied to each other via high-voltage direct current power transmission lines (DC ties), or with variable-frequency transformers (VFTs), which permit a controlled flow of energy while also functionally isolating the independent AC frequencies of each side. The Eastern Interconnection is tied to the Western Interconnection with six DC ties, to the Texas Interconnection with two DC ties, and to the Quebec Interconnection with four DC ties and a VFT.
In 2016, National Renewable Energy Laboratory simulated a year with 30% renewable energy (wind and solar power) in 5-minute intervals. Results show a stable grid with some changes in operation. [1] [2]
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reported in 2008 the following actual and projected consumption for the regions of the Eastern Interconnection (all figures in gigawatts): [3]
in GW | Summer | Winter | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region | 2007 | 2017 | Growth | 2007 | 2017 | Growth |
FRCC | 47 | 57 | 21.3% | 42 | 60 | 42.9% |
MRO (US) | 42 | 52 | 23.8% | 35 | 42 | 20.0% |
NPCC (US) | 61 | 69 | 13.1% | 48 | 53 | 10.4% |
RFC | 180 | 209 | 16.1% | 141 | 164 | 16.3% |
SERC | 209 | 243 | 16.3% | 179 | 209 | 16.8% |
SPP | 43 | 51 | 18.6% | 31 | 38 | 22.6% |
US- East Interconnection | 582 | 681 | 17.0% | 476 | 566 | 18.9% |
MRO (CAN) | 6.2 | 6.9 | 11.3% | 7.3 | 8.2 | 12.3% |
NPCC (CAN) | 50.3 | 50.7 | 0.8% | 65.0 | 66.7 | 2.6% |
CAN- East Interconnection | 56.5 | 57.6 | 2.0% | 72.3 | 74.9 | 3.6% |
Eastern Interconnection | 638.5 | 738.6 | 15.7% | 548.3 | 640.9 | 16.9% |
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is a nonprofit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, and formed on March 28, 2006, as the successor to the North American Electric Reliability Council. The original NERC was formed on June 1, 1968, by the electric utility industry to promote the reliability and adequacy of bulk power transmission in the electric utility systems of North America. NERC's mission states that it "is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid".
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The Western Interconnection is a wide area synchronous grid and one of the two major alternating current (AC) power grids in the North American power transmission grid. The other major wide area synchronous grid is the Eastern Interconnection. The minor interconnections are the Québec Interconnection, the Texas Interconnection, and the Alaska Interconnections.
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The electrical power grid that powers Northern America is not a single grid, but is instead divided into multiple wide area synchronous grids. The Eastern Interconnection and the Western Interconnection are the largest. Three other regions include the Texas Interconnection, the Quebec Interconnection, and the Alaska Interconnection. Each region delivers power at a nominal 60 Hz frequency. The regions are not usually directly connected or synchronized to each other, but there exist some HVDC interconnectors. The Eastern and Western grids are connected via seven links that allow 1.32 GW to flow between them. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that increasing these interconnections would save energy costs.
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