Latest news with #interconnection
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Bridging The Fleet Electrification Interconnection Gap
Across the country, fleets are making moves to electrify, driven by operational cost savings and other factors. But while electric vehicles are increasingly rolling off production lines, a major bottleneck is slowing progress: connecting to the grid can be a long and complicated process. The term 'interconnection' refers to the steps required to connect EV charging infrastructure to the local power grid. It involves everything from grid studies and transformer upgrades to permitting and utility approvals. And while the typical timeline for site preparation and EV charging installation is relatively short, adding grid side upgrades may mean years of waiting, depending on the region, utility resources, and project complexity. That timeline doesn't match the pace of electrification. According to ICF's latest forecast, total electricity demand is now projected to grow 25% by 2030—up from a previous 18% projection by 2033—and by 78% by 2050. Demand is accelerating faster than expected, and infrastructure must keep up. Electric school buses and charging stations at a fleet yard in California Interconnection delays are one of the most common challenges facing fleets and charging developers. Many projects come to a halt due to a lack of sufficient electrical capacity at the site while others encounter unique site-specific circumstances that have nothing to do with the utility. And as EV deployment continues, the complexity of the problem increases. From investor-owned to municipal, each utility operates differently. Some offer comprehensive make-ready programs, transparent capacity maps, and hands-on technical assistance, while others are still building out their internal expertise. Either way, the result is often the same: vehicle miles cannot be electrified if the infrastructure isn't online. In response, fleets and developers are adopting solutions to work within existing utility or site constraints while maximizing their electrification using available infrastructure capacity. One increasingly viable option is flexible interconnection, or a flexible service connection in the EV context. This model enables managed charging, dynamic energy use, and more intelligent infrastructure deployment. A flexible connection allows customers to collaborate with their utility to decide how much extra power they really need rather than simply assuming the highest potential need and waiting for a yes or no answer. And it gives utilities a new tool to serve customers who are electrifying faster than the grid can be upgraded. Many organizations are leveraging hardware and software tools to use existing grid capacity more efficiently. One leader in this space is The Mobility House, which works with fleets to intelligently manage energy loads and optimize charging. 'Most utilities are not set up to proactively study how much capacity a specific fleet actually needs or can access,' said Sam Hill-Cristol, Director of Business Development and Strategy at The Mobility House. 'That's where charging management systems come in. The right CMS can be used to merge customer and utility constraints.' These systems use predictive analytics and automated load management to match charging demand with available power capacity to meet fleet mobility. This can function as a 'bridge to wires,' allowing fleet electrification to proceed while the utility completes needed infrastructure upgrades. In some cases, the solutions can even defer or avoid infrastructure improvements altogether, especially when paired with smart controls, dynamic scheduling, or battery storage. States like California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, and New York are advancing programs and policy shifts to encourage more adaptive interconnection approaches and proactive engagement between the utility and customers seeking to electrify. And with new industry technical standards (such as UL 3141) for power control systems on the horizon, utilities will soon have more assurance that customers can respect agreed-upon energy use limits and patterns. The largest operator of electric school buses in North America, First Student, is putting other innovative strategies to work. The company has 450 electric buses on the road today, 1,500 more on order, and a target of 30,000 by 2035. Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student, brings decades of experience in grid planning and vehicle-grid-integration. 'Infrastructure is what enables EVs to execute the fleet's mission,' he said. 'So, the first call we make when evaluating a new site is to the utility.' First Student currently works with 126 utilities across North America, ranging from sophisticated IOUs to small rural co-ops. Despite this diversity, Matthews says the company has never abandoned a project due to interconnection challenges. To help stay ahead of the curve while addressing challenges such as leased property where permanent infrastructure isn't feasible, First Student developed FirstCharge. This modular system can be relocated, scaled up, and even comes pre-wired for stationary storage to help offset demand charges. 'We're seeing cost reductions of up to 30%,' Matthews notes. 'It's practical, it's flexible, and now we're offering it to other school bus fleets as a service.' Companies like First Student and The Mobility House are on the leading edge, constantly gaining insights that contribute to a clearer picture of what a friction-less interconnection process could look like. 'When a fleet submits an interconnection request for X megawatts of power that isn't currently available, the utility would ideally be in a position to facilitate two options for the customer: wait for the upgrade, or move forward now by tapping into load management solutions,' said Hill-Cristol. 'That future is closer than people think.' Given the pace at which electrification is accelerating, fleets and developers are getting creative to address near-term needs while contributing to industry-wide efforts aiming to improve interconnection for EV charging. By investing in technology that makes charging smarter, more responsive, and grid-aligned, these organizations are demonstrating what's possible when we manage the grid not as a constraint—but as a partner.
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman-Yemen power grid interconnection under study
MUSCAT: Well-known international energy sector engineering services consultancy firm Monenco has announced that it has secured a contract from Omani authorities to study the feasibility of interconnecting the power grids of Oman and Yemen. The client is Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), the majority state-owner and operator of the Sultanate's national grid. OETC – part of Nama Group – also manages interconnectivity with the grids of neighbouring countries via the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), a joint initiative by member states of the GCC to support electricity exchanges. 'We're proud to announce that Monenco Oman has been awarded the highly strategic Oman–Yemen Power Grid Interconnection Project by Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) under Tender No. 15/2025,' Monenco noted in a recent post. 'Monenco will be responsible for delivering the feasibility study, engineering services, and full supervision during implementation up to successful energization. This project is a major step toward enhancing energy security and fostering regional power connectivity across the Arabian Peninsula and the wider GCC region,' the company further added. The initiative aligns with an ongoing bid by Oman to explore grid interconnectivity with all of its neighbours with which it shares a land border, as well as with Iran across the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, the Sultanate signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran to review a feasibility study of a grid interconnection project between the two countries. The MoU was among 18 cooperation pacts inked by the two countries during the official visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Muscat. Signing on behalf of Oman was Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, while Iran was represented by Seyed Mohammad Atabak, Minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade. Meanwhile, linkages between Oman and the GCCIA network continue to expand and strengthen. According to OETC, a new 400kV direct transmission line between Oman and the GCCIA network is currently in the design stage. 'This new line will establish a vital link between the OETC Ibri IPP and the Silaa grid stations (in the UAE), with the project scheduled for completion in Q1 2027. The interconnection will enhance the reliability and resilience of the transmission system by increasing the total transfer capacity between Oman and the GCCIA networks to 1,700MW, strengthening regional grid integration, supporting the energy transition and improving energy security,' OETC affirmed in its recently published Transmission Capability Statement. As part of the new direct link GCCIA will build and own a new 400kV grid station at Ibri, not far from the existing Ibri IPP grid station. This new Ibri GCCIA 400kV grid station will be connected to the Silaa 400kV grid station owned by GCCIA with total overhead-line length of about 528 km (88.2 km from Ibri GCCIA 400kV to the border and 470 km from the border to Silaa and introducing a middle point station at UAE). Importantly, the new direct link builds on an existing interconnection between Oman and the GCCIA network, which has been operational since November 2011. It connects Mahadha grid station at Al Wasit in Oman with the Al Oha grid station at Al Ain in the UAE. In 2024, Oman exported 775,637.38 megawatt-hours (MWh) and imported 63,948.41 MWh through the existing GCCIA interconnection, 'reflecting a robust interconnection and mutual support within the region's energy sector,' OETC remarked. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Bloomberg
25-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Portugal Continues Easing Limits on Power Imports From Spain
Portugal will continue to ease limits on the electricity interconnection capacity for imports from Spain after trading between the two countries was halted last month due to a blackout. The April 28 blackout left Portugal and Spain without electricity for hours, hitting public transport, telecommunications systems and other services. Portuguese Energy and Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said on May 2 that as a precaution Portugal was at that time not trading electricity with Spain and was being supplied entirely with power produced within the country.
Bloomberg
18-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Portugal Eases Limits on Power Imports From Spain After Blackout
Portugal will continue to ease limits on the electricity interconnection capacity for imports from Spain after trading between the two countries was halted last month due to a blackout. The cap on import capacity from Spain will increase to 1,500 megawatts between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on May 19-26, according to the website of Portuguese energy grid operator REN-Redes Energeticas Nacionais SA. There will no longer be restrictions at other times. Portugal has also been exporting electricity to Spain.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Greece and Egypt reaffirm their commitment to an undersea power cable
Greece and Egypt reaffirmed their commitment Wednesday to a proposed undersea electricity interconnection designed to transport renewable energy from North Africa to Europe. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi renewed the pledge during talks in Athens, following the signing of cooperation agreements across multiple sectors. The planned 3,000-megawatt capacity cable will stretch nearly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) across the eastern Mediterranean and has secured backing from the European Union, making it eligible for significant EU funding. 'This will allow both Greece and Europe to import low-cost energy – primarily wind energy, which you are able to produce very competitively – and export it to Europe,' Mitsotakis said during joint statements. The project, estimated to cost around 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion), is expected to become operational within five years, under an ambitious timeline set by both governments. It aims to transmit solar and wind-generated power developed specifically for the project in Egypt, with private sector involvement led by Greece's Copelouzos Group. El-Sissi highlighted the project's strategic importance. 'It's not just a bilateral matter – it's a strategic regional project, as it creates a direct link that will extend to Europe via Greece,' he said. 'We count on the European Union's support for this major initiative.' The EU has expressed strong interest in expanding energy partnerships with non-member countries to diversify its energy sources and reduce its historic dependence on Russian energy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Mitsotakis and el-Sissi also discussed regional security, migration challenges, and ways to deepen Egypt's relationship with the European Union. 'Greece is a steadfast ally of Egypt, including on matters concerning your country's relationship with the European Union,' Mitsotakis said, underlining Athens' role in fostering closer EU-Egypt ties. The talks in Athens concluded with agreements to explore additional energy cooperation, facilitate expanded seasonal employment of Egyptian workers in Greece, and enhance collaboration across financial, defense, and cultural sectors.
