Achieving Clean Energy Targets Using an HVDC Overlay Grid

摘要

This paper discusses the idea of using a high voltage direct current (HVDC) overlay grid for sharing generation resources over a wide geographical area to achieve clean energy targets. The study is carried out focusing on four provinces in Canada - Manitoba (MB), Saskatchewan (SK), Alberta (AB) and British Columbia (BC); however the idea can be implemented in other parts of the world as well. The idea discussed here is very timely since the Canadian government currently is considering the implementation of a carbon tax which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging utilities to invest in cleaner technologies and adopt greener practices. Provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan rely heavily on thermal generation while provinces like Manitoba and BC are rich in hydro resources. As a result of the concern towards global warming due to greenhouse gas emission, there is a significant push for retirement of coal-fired power plants to de-carbonize the industry. In order to maintain the reliability of electricity supply and stability of prices for consumers, the lost capacity of retired coal plants needs to be replaced by alternative energy sources. One of the ways to solve energy shortage issue while achieving clean energy targets is through an electrical infrastructure that would allow sharing of green energy resources between the provinces. This will allow provinces to share highly abundant hydro energy in Manitoba and BC and would allow for higher penetration of future solar and wind energy in Saskatchewan and Alberta to cover energy demands of each province. This paper describes how an overlay transmission grid that connects the provinces can be used to achieve the objectives described above. The study investigates the advantages of using HVDC as the transmission technology for the overlay grid. The paper also discusses the political, technical and regulatory challenges that need to be resolved for implementing such an overlay grid.