Advanced Distribution Operations
Meeting Rooms 1–3
8:30 a.m. – Case Study: A Subtransmission-Level Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) Scheme
Speaker: Trent Bridges, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
This paper presents how Huntsville Utilities has been developing and implementing a project for Redstone Arsenal, in which FLISR is applied to a 46 kV subtransmission system, with the aim of fast outage detection, isolation, restoration, as well as return-to-normal capabilities. This case study follows a phase-by-phase deployment approach, in which the FLISR scheme is developed, simulated, operated in advisory mode, operated in isolation mode, and operated in autonomous mode.
9:15 – Integration of Centralized and Decentralized DERMS
Speaker: Tom Guttormson, Connexus Energy
DERMS encompasses a wide variety of tools that have potential benefit to DSOs and end use customers; however, the definition of DERMS may be ambiguous and use cases differ among a variety of potential users. This session will discuss varying DERMS applications, opportunities for DSOs to address challenges and realize benefits, and share DERMS applications deployed across several utilities.
10:30 – Flexible Interconnections: Addressing Interconnection Challenges on Distribution Grids
Speaker: Jon Grooters, Smarter Grid Solutions
Flexible Interconnections are a growing trend to allow for more DERs to connect using existing infrastructure. By leveraging technology that uses real-time data and grid topology, grid operators can maximize distribution capacity dynamically without sacrificing reliability.
11:15 – Overcoming the Challenges of License-Free Radio Communications with Secure Cellular Radios
Speaker: Tom Bartman, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
This presentation outlines an example in which a user's problem with license-free radios was solved using reliable and secure cellular radios.
Project Management
Meeting Rooms 4–6
8:30 a.m. – Quit Annoying Your Contractor
Speaker: Bridget Honsey, Black & Veatch
Pull on your boots and pick up your hard hat: We’re headed to the field! You will get to hear about some of those missed design opportunities, inconsistencies, and general pet peeves that show up for the contractor.
Project execution models do not always provide the opportunity for a feedback loop. Engineering teams put in their best efforts on a design, spending months or even years to incorporate codes, standards, best practices, regulatory requirements, environmental considerations, landowner concerns, latest technologies, project owner requests, and safe, efficient design. If the designs are then handed off, the team may never find out about the big and small reasons the construction crew asks, “What were they thinking?” or “Why didn’t they do it this way?”
This presentation will bring together a transmission owner, a construction field superintendent, and an engineer to share real stories and solutions for transmission line construction. Nearly two decades of partnership in the Midwest have provided many opportunities to improve communication and planning for items like constructability meetings, material management, hardware application planning, steel pole detailing, construction drawing details, and more. The presenters will review specific examples of challenges and inconveniences that have been encountered in the field, methods of receiving and encouraging feedback, and improvements or changes that have resulted from construction input. New and experienced design team members will benefit from a change in project viewpoint and candid conversations about what works well and what does not.
9:15 – Procurement Challenges Prompted Our Resourceful Power Pivot Keeping the WPL Solar Program on Schedule
Speakers: Duke Kuvaas, Burns & McDonnell; Jim Thiede, Alliant Energy
After completing the design of the collection substation, the high voltage circuit breaker manufacturer could not meet schedule commitments for two SF6 gas circuit breakers. Without this critical substation equipment, the collection substation could not be energized, and the power plant could not generate electricity to the grid. The project team made an alternative plan to source the SF6 gas breakers. This case study will cover how we avoided equipment delays, repurposed decommissioned equipment, conducted compliance reviews, and kept the project on schedule.
10:30 – Project Management: 21st Century Style
Speaker: Jennifer Johnson, Mesa Associates, Inc.
In this session, we outline a comprehensive strategy to tackle project management challenges, implement industry-leading practices, and seamlessly integrate legacy knowledge with cutting-edge processes. By leveraging defined processes with artificial intelligence, we maximize the experience for employees while also giving supervisors a meaningful view of the work in progress. If you are trying to juggle multiple projects and processes, this session will present a forward-looking approach to navigate daily project management expectations from conception through construction. Using cutting-edge tools tailored to capture and transfer information efficiently by digitizing workflows and using artificial intelligence to execute tasks with precision, this approach will streamline efforts and enhance operational management, safety protocols, and overall productivity. Providing staff with real-time visibility into project lifecycles fosters clarity and minimizes confusion, while AI-driven solutions guide users through optimal approaches, saving time, reducing costs, and mitigating risks.
11:15 – Fair Game or Foul Play: Tools and Methods to Assess the Equity Impacts of Energy Infrastructure Projects
Speaker: Bruno Penet, HDR, Inc.
Historically, certain communities, including those from minority and low-income populations, have been disproportionately affected by environmentally harmful energy infrastructure projects. In the wake of recent announcements and policy directives, federal and state government agencies strive to better understand the implications of energy infrastructure investments on equity and environmental justice, and to take steps to prevent or address inequities. This presentation will explore effective methods and tools for evaluating who is affected, in what ways, and to what degree.
Generation
Ballroom C/D
8:30 a.m. – Project Tundra Update
Speaker: Craig Bleth, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.
Minnkota Power has been working since 2015 on a utility-scale carbon capture and sequestration project located at their Milton R. Young Station near Center, ND. This topic is intended to cover project background as well as future plans and is an update from the 2019 MIPSYCON presentation on the same topic.
9:15 – Building Generation in the Bakken – Pioneer Generation Station
Speaker: Matt Ehrman, Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Load growth in the Bakken oil play continues to increase electrical demand, resulting in the need for additional generation. In response, Basin Electric is constructing its largest single-site generation project in 40 years, building the 580MW Pioneer Generation Station IV. This presentation will review the history of the Bakken's load growth, generation solutions implemented until now, evaluation process for selecting the size and type of generation, contract methods and key engineering decisions, overview of construction to-date, and lessons learned.
10:30 – The Design and Application of Synchronous Condensers
Speaker: Sergey Kynev, Siemens Energy
This presentation explores the critical role of SynCons in grid stability, detailing their components, specification criteria, and recent installations. It also highlights emerging trends and advancements, providing a comprehensive overview of their application in modern energy systems.
11:15 – Maximizing Inverter-Based Generation Performance for PV and Storage Generation Facilities
Speaker: Brian Waldron, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
This paper examines three topics related to performance for inverter-based generation: system component selection and communications system design, evaluation and identification of individual component limitations within the system, and the type of performance that can be expected from generation facilities with well-designed system components compared to typical equipment and methods.
Transmission Systems
Ballroom A/B
8:30 – Study Framework for NERC's Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS)
Speakers: Saad Malik, North American Electric Reliability Corporation; Bryan Clark, Midwest Reliability Organization
Interregional transfer capability is key for the reliable supply and delivery of electricity. It enables an area of the bulk power system to address energy deficiencies by relying on distant resources. NERC’s Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS), directed by the United States Congress in 2023, examines the current transfer capability across the United States and the future need for additional transfer capacity to ensure reliability.
9:15 – Ten Years of Grid Forming at the Mackinac HVDC
Speaker: Michael Marz, American Transmission Company
Although grid forming is promoted as the latest improvement in inverter-based resource control, the Mackinac HVDC connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan has used grid forming controls since going into service in 2014. This presentation describes the basics of grid forming controls, why they are used at Mackinac, and how they have performed.
10:30 – FERC Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation
Speaker: Eric Ciccoretti, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
This will be an overview of recent FERC initiatives supporting the development of efficient transmission infrastructure, focusing on Order No. 1920 (Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation and Generator Interconnection) and addressing both the high-level issues and their principal requirements. In addition, the speaker will touch on Order No. 2023 (Improvements to Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreements), Order No. 881 (Managing Transmission Line Ratings), and other applicable FERC initiatives as time allows.
11:15 – Great River Energy Utilizing Dynamic Line Ratings
Speakers: Michael Craig, Great River Energy; Tom Cleaver, Heimdall Power
In 2023, to prepare for FERC Order 881, Great River Energy (GRE) began a pilot project with Heimdall Power to install line sensors for real-time measuring of line and ambient conditions to calculate line ratings. After initial results showed significant capacity gains, the project was expanded to include 52 additional sensors across eight lines. This presentation describes the technology used and project results.
Civil-Structural
Meeting Rooms 4–6
1:00 p.m. – Case Study: Lessons in Failed Foundation Design
Speaker: Duane Phillips, CVR Engineering
This presentation reviews actual long-term project impacts from a failed foundation design and the repairs required to correct foundations and leaning structures. The foundation design approach was wholly inadequate for the geotechnical conditions, resulting in early structure leaning and failure indicators. The presentation will also walk-through the testing and corrective actions of three attempts at correcting foundation strength issues and impact on the project.
1:45 – Key Takeaways from Updated ASCE 113 Substation Structure Design Guide
Speaker: Ricky Engel, Black & Veatch
The long anticipated second edition of ASCE 113 was released earlier this year, fifteen years after the original publication. This presentation aims to highlight key design criteria given in the second edition, ways the design criteria differ from the first edition, and items that utilities and consultants should be aware of that may affect their current design and construction standards.
3:00 – Navigating Challenges: Designing a Mass Concrete Foundation on the Mighty Mississippi
Speaker: Josh Pierce, Steve Gartner, HDR
This session provides an overview of concrete pile cap foundation design through a recent real-world example located on an island in the Mississippi River. There will be discussion of unique design challenges and solutions including modeling, load transfer between pile cap and piles, and mass concrete construction considerations.
3:45 – Considerations for the Design of 765-kV Transmission Lines
Speakers: Darren Campbell, Cory Henderson, Burns & McDonnell
MISO recently released the new Long Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 2 transmission expansion plans. The proposed system expansions included an extensive 765-kV transmission line buildout throughout multiple territories in the MISO region. Although 765-kV lines have operated in the United States for a long time, 765-kV transmission lines have historically been maintained and operated by relatively few utilities. For the vast majority, the proposed Tranche II expansion would require new 765-kV design, operations, and maintenance standards to be developed. This presentation proposes to review the history and future need for 765-kV transmission, the differences when compared with other voltages, and design considerations for 765-kV transmission lines.
Distribution
Ballroom C/D
1:00 p.m. – Lessons Learned from December 2023 Ice Storm
Speakers: Jodi Bullinger, Troy Knutson, Cass County Electric Cooperative
Discussion will include the timeline of the 12-day storm and the aftermath of losing 1,200 poles. We’ll offer takeaways for our lessons learned from several debriefing meetings after the storm, for other utilities to benefit from.
1:45 – Electric Vehicle Planning at Connexus Energy
Speakers: Chris Punt, Noah Rogers, Connexus Energy
This presentation will highlight improvements Connexus Energy has made to how they plan for and accommodate electric vehicles on their system. This includes changes to their design practices and the use of data to determine where to target proactive upgrades.
3:00 – Automating the DER Interconnection Application Process
Speaker: Abby Martin, Ulteig Engineers
As the demand for distributed energy resources (DER) grows, Xcel Energy's Colorado operating company (PSCo) faces the challenge of processing a large volume of interconnection applications efficiently and effectively. To meet this challenge, PSCo has implemented various automation solutions to streamline and enhance different aspects of the interconnection process, such as application validation, queue management, engineering review, and customer communication. This session will showcase how PSCo leverages automation tools and programs to improve the interconnection experience for customers and installers, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and technical requirements.
3:45 – NEC Requirements for High/Medium Voltage and Renewable Energy Sites
Speakers: Tom Conlin, Rochester Public Utilities; Scott Higgins, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is required to be fully followed in a number of US states, including Minnesota, for all-new electrical construction that isn’t fully owned by a “electric utility” as defined by MN law (e.g., Xcel or city-owned). This means that most renewable energy developments in the state, which are owned by private developers, will need to be fully compliant with the NEC, regardless of how high the voltage is. This includes the actual renewable wind, solar, and battery-energy-storage equipment along with medium voltage collection system, substation, and transmission line if privately owned. Some code articles discussed could also be applied to data centers or any other high-voltage private installation.
This presentation will cover some of the big things to watch out for as an engineer starting to design a renewable energy system for a private developer. Topics will include equipment listing/labeling, sufficient working space, security fence spacing, service disconnecting means, overcurrent protection, grounding, wiring methods and materials, medium voltage cable issues, transformers, solar farms, wind farms, and professional engineer documentation and calculation requirements. The presenters will share photos and lessons learned on past projects regarding practices to avoid. Due to time constraints, the presentation cannot be an exhaustive high/medium voltage review of the NEC.
Relaying II
Meeting Rooms 1–3
1:00 p.m. – Digital Substation Application Concepts for IBR Renewable Energy Plants
Speaker: Wayne Hartmann, GE Grid Solutions
With the fast-tracked planned installations of Utility-Scale Inverter-Based Resource (IBR) Power Plants to the bulk power system, utilities, consultants, EPCs and developers are all seeking methods to standardize P&C designs and hasten execution. Many of these power plant designs incorporate a high voltage (HV) section or sections, pooling bus (PLB) section or sections, and collector bus (CLB) sections. This paper will explore a typical power plant incorporating all these sections and suggest architectures for standardized yard-to-merging unit connectivity. As most of these power plants follow standardized approaches for the power infrastructure, the P&C also can provide a high degree of standardization.
1:45 – Challenges and Solutions for Distance Elements Protecting Transmission Lines with Tapped Loads
Speaker: Josh LaBlanc, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
In this paper, a real-world event is used to analyze the impacts the loss of a transformer primary phase has on transformer secondary voltages for delta-wye transformers. I’ll present a new method to reliably detect this open-phase condition during permanent fault and balanced or unbalanced load impedance conditions.
3:00 – Evolving Ground Faults with Neutral Grounding Reactors
Speakers: Scott Elling, Burns & McDonnell; Sarah Marshall, Alliant Energy
The presentation will provide an analysis of a real line-to-ground fault that evolved into a line-to-line-to-ground fault at an interconnect facility that employs an X-winding neutral grounding reactor. It will describe how negative-sequence overcurrent elements were employed to maintain adequate fault clearing times thus reducing arc flash incident energy. Use of negative-sequence overcurrent elements may be used to improve coverage in similar situations.
3:45 – Summary Paper for IEEE C37.109-2023 Guide for Protection of Shunt Reactors
Speaker: Ilia Voloh, GE Vernova
This summary paper introduces the revised guide IEEE C37.109-2023 to the industry. Two basic shunt reactor applications considered in the paper for the protection are line or bus connected reactors and tertiary connected reactors. Line-connected reactor types and configurations considered include dry-type, oil immersed, wye-connected, directly grounded, or grounded through a neutral reactor. Tertiary connected reactors are dry-type ungrounded wye connected to the tertiary winding of a power transformer. The paper discusses various construction arrangements and its implications on protection designs. In addition, the guide introduces variable shunt reactors with tap changers and oil immersed, gapped iron-core shunt reactors with auxiliary windings to provide station service in remote areas.
This paper highlights system considerations and switching issues, focusing on when to trip only the reactor breaker or the line breaker for faults on the line or in the reactor. It also discusses issues with delayed-current zero crossing on shunt compensated lines with a higher degree of compensation. The presence of the series capacitor on a line and the line shunt capacitance generates subsynchronous oscillations with a shunt reactor which has an impact on the sensitive protection functions. These sensitive functions rely on the sequence parameters based on system nominal frequency, and the paper points out the methods to prevent overtripping. The paper discusses conventional protection schemes such as overcurrent, differential, directional overcurrent, overvoltage protection, focusing on the specific design features provided in various modern relay designs, and typical ranges for setting these functions considering these design features. In addition to the protection itself, the paper discusses peculiarities of the CT performance due to high X/R of shunt reactors.
The paper also highlights the latest protection techniques for turn-to-turn faults and provides setting examples with discussions, as well as discusses a few utility events, covered in the guide.
Emerging Technologies
Ballroom A/B
1:00 p.m. – Case Study: Enhancing Grid Reliability in the Presence of Inverter-Based Resources Through Advanced Oscillation Detection and Mitigation
Speakers: Joshua Wold, Jared Bestebreur, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
Dominion Energy, Virginia, has deployed a PMU-based oscillation detection system. This system has detected several oscillations caused by malfunctioning or mistuned controllers for inverter-based resources. These oscillations were not detected by traditional monitoring systems. Several specific cases are discussed, including root-cause analysis.
1:45 – Resilient Microgrids with Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Systems
Speaker: Joel Jorgenson, BWR Innovations
Innovations in clean energy now allow for microgrids to be integrated into electrical grids. BWR Innovations has developed a scalable (100kW to 1MW) zero-emission generator which provides resilient, fail-safe, dispatchable electrical production.
3:00 – Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration (CCUS) : A proven decarbonization solution for the Industrial and Power Generation Utility Sectors
Speaker: Ethan Ahern, Black & Veatch
Increasing environmental benefits, along with societal and financial pressure for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, are pushing world economies, leading industries, and large corporations to focus on decarbonization by 2050 or earlier. Nowhere is the push to decarbonize stronger than in the power industry, which is diligently working to embrace the energy transformation by increasing its adoption of renewable energy and low-carbon generation sources, investing in the modernization of the power grid, and developing decarbonization strategies that are adaptive and responsive. A transformed and decarbonized energy ecosystem based primarily on renewable energy sources and low-carbon fuel alternatives is only feasible if it can offer adequate energy storage capacity to stabilize the energy supply and demand in the markets. Without proven long-duration energy storage solutions that can achieve balance, these modern energy ecosystems pose a major risk to the industry and to the economy which depends on energy reliability and resilience. Due to their economic viability and ease of accessibility, use of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil for power generation would continue to provide energy resilience benefits that the modern energy ecosystem requires. When integrated with carbon capture technology to remove CO2 emissions, power generation assets would be in position to achieve the decarbonization objectives.
Carbon Capture Utilization & Sequestration (CCUS) is a proven decarbonization solution that encompasses a multitude of commercial-ready and emerging technologies/processes capable of capturing CO2 from point-source emissions generated from post-combustion operations at power generation facilities and other similar operations in the larger industry. CCUS technologies include chemical and physical solvent absorption, sorbent adsorption, membranes, and cryogenic CO2 separation technologies. After CO2 removal from flue-gas, the captured CO2 is typically transported using pipeline conveyance and permanently sequestered underground via deep well injection into saline formations or depleted oil wells. Given the low-cost natural gas availability and the regional CO2 storage capabilities, CCUS is one of the few decarbonization alternatives in the transformed energy ecosystem that enables new and existing power generation operations to transform into flexible dispatchable, low-carbon power sources while maintaining the reliability and resilience the market demands. The industry and power utilities supporting deployment of CCUS on their existing and new assets will continue to attain employment and economic prosperity in their respective service territories.
Although deployed at scale across industries and on the back-end of coal-fired power plants, CCUS technology continues to optimize and demonstrate their technology on other flue-gas applications, such as natural gas fired assets. CCUS technology challenges and opportunities are many and dependent on the application and region. This presentation will provide an overview of commercial and emerging CO2 capture technologies available in the utility/industrial market; the current status of CCUS projects being deployed; CCUS project approach; CCUS technology and integration challenges; and a high-level overview of the available CCUS tax incentives. This presentation will also discuss the existing and future CCUS market trends, with a special focus on the technology development roadmap to achieve larger-scale commercial applications in the future.
3:45 – Benefits and Impacts of Grid Forming BESS on a Real-World Interconnected Power System
Speaker: Farhad Yahyaie, Elevate Energy Consulting
This presentation discusses an exploratory electromagnetic transient (EMT) study of the potential reliability and stability benefits of more widespread adoption of grid forming BESS technology. The study tests actual OEM models against the NERC GFM functional specifications, and then tests the reliability performance, benefits, implications, and challenges of widespread adoption of GFM BESS on the ATC system under a range of operating conditions and contingencies.