1. PC04 High Hydro Study Results
June 24, 2015
Western Electricity Coordinating Council

2. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Overview
Production Cost Model
Assumptions
E3 Assumptions
Geographic Variations
Capacity Added for Study
Results
Generation Change
Dump Energy
Path Flows
Scope
Key Questions
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3. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
PC04 High Hydro
Central Question: How does production cost, generation dispatch, and transmission utilization change under High hydro conditions?
Change to starting input assumptions:
Loads – none
Transmission System – None
Generation – 2001 hydro data substituted for median hydro data (2005)
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4. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Generation Change
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5. Production Cost and CO2 Annual Generation by Category (MWh) Category
2024 PC
2024 PC4 High Hydro
Difference
Conventional Hydro
238,955,786
258,713,811
19,758,025
Energy Storage
3,592,412
3,526,002
(66,410)
Steam - Coal
227,755,474
222,097,377
(5,658,098)
Steam - Other
2,637,910
2,550,551
(87,359)
Nuclear
56,254,786
56,084,205
(170,581)
Combined Cycle
278,957,656
266,761,517
(12,196,139)
Combustion Turbine
51,794,128
50,783,911
(1,010,217) IC
818,909
727,920
(90,989)
DG/DR/EE - Incremental
17,916,707
17,914,024
(2,682)
Biomass RPS
19,581,287
19,522,677
(58,609)
Geothermal
31,937,139
31,923,535
(13,604)
Small Hydro RPS
4,360,054
4,018,541
(341,513)
Solar
38,182,163
38,154,626
(27,536)
Wind
74,232,546
74,258,154
25,608
== Total ==
1,050,342,237
1,050,402,132
59,895
Cost (M$)
22,843
22,185
(659)
CO2 Cost (M$)
1,730
1,683
(46)
CO2 Amount (MMetrTn)
362
352
(10)
Dump Energy (MWh)
357,799
362,318
4,519
Pumping (PL+PS) (MWh)
15,426,008
15,342,029
(83,980)
Top section is the numerical part of the graph shown on the previous slide
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6. Changes in Total Annual Generation
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7. Generation Change By Subregion
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8. Generation Change by State
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9. Results – Most Heavily Utilized Paths
Congestion vs Utilization
Some lines are designed to be congested
“Most Heavily Utilized” = A path that meets any one of the following criterion (10-year plan utilization screening):
U75 > 50%
U90 > 20%
U99 > 5%
Uxx = % of year that flow is greater than xx% of the path limit
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10. Results – Changes in Transmission Utilization
Most Heavily Utilized Paths
P01 Alberta-British Columbia
P03 Northwest-British Columbia
P08 Montana to Northwest
P11 West of Crossover
P10 West of Colstrip
P65 PDCI *NEW*
P66 COI *NEW*
Name
75% Limit
90% Limit
99% Limit
P52 Silver Peak-Control 55 kV
35.34%
23.01%
0.00%
P60 Inyo-Control 115 kV Tie
66.46%
43.49%
29.31%
P16 Idaho-Sierra *NEW*
P29 Intermountain-Gonder
P27 IPP DC Line
P60 Inyo-Control
P26 Northern-Southern California
P47 – Southern New Mexico
P45 SDG&E-CFE
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11. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Results
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12. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Results
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13. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Path Flows
Path 3 there is an increase in the path flow but still is not reaching any of the U ratings
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14. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Path Flows
Path 17 the path flow is increased slightly throughout the entire year
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15. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Findings
Increased hydro availability results in a reduction of production cost and carbon emissions.
The additional hydro availability results in an increase in hydro production WECC wide with the exceptions of BC and Alberta
Transmission impacts are minimal.
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16. Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Contact Info
Dan Beckstead
Western Electricity Coordinating Council