Surplus Interconnection Service Offers Faster Grid Expansion, States Urged to Act
Event summary
- Surplus Interconnection Service (SIS) allows new power generation or storage to be added to the grid in months, bypassing the typical 5-year interconnection queue.
- SIS leverages unused capacity at existing power plants (over 20 MW) by sharing their grid access with new resources like solar and batteries.
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission enabled widespread SIS adoption in 2018.
- States can encourage SIS through planning requirements, regulatory consideration, economic incentives, and expedited permitting.
The big picture
The US electricity grid faces increasing demand and lengthy interconnection processes, hindering renewable energy deployment. SIS offers a potentially significant shortcut, but its success hinges on proactive state and utility engagement. This approach addresses a systemic bottleneck, potentially accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources and reducing reliance on lengthy transmission line construction.
What we're watching
- State Adoption
- The pace at which state governments implement the recommended actions will determine the extent of SIS adoption and its impact on grid expansion timelines.
- Utility Response
- How utilities integrate SIS into their integrated resource plans and resource planning processes will be crucial for realizing the full benefits of the approach.
- Regulatory Scrutiny
- Increased SIS adoption may draw regulatory scrutiny regarding grid reliability and fairness to projects in the traditional interconnection queue.
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