Grid supply chain crisis in the USA
USA’s DOE proposes new regulation, raising concerns about the grid supply crisis.
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USA, Washington: USA’s DOE proposes new regulation, raising concerns about the grid supply crisis.
Referring to a new proposed regulation by the USA’s Department of Energy that seeks to implement stricter efficiency standards in the midst of the supply crisis, US senator Hyde-Smith stated, “It seems to me, the White House put the cart before the horse with these new efficiency standards versus meeting current demand, supporting positive investment in the electric grid, and providing critical services to citizens,” she said.
The power industry is also concerned about the issue. Leaders of the industry’s two major trade associations gave their opinions on the matter.
“Across the board, our members are experiencing severe supply chain constraints. We’re not able to get distribution transformers, and we’ve been sounding the alarm with the federal government because hurricane season is around the corner,” says Adrienne Lotto, Senior Vice President of Grid Security at the American Public Power Association (APPA). “[APPA members] are very concerned about having supplies on hand should a hurricane come or should there be an event, to be able to respond and repair and restore the grid as quickly as possible. The supplies are dwindling and we’re seeing a longer and longer time in terms of getting our orders fulfilled.”
Todd Snitchler, President of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), agrees that the biggest concern centres are larger, distribution transformers. “The timelines I have heard for the smaller transformers are up to two years, and for the large transformers that can be up to five years,” he says.
Hyde-Smith pointed to an analysis published by the National Electric Manufacturers Association which finds that the proposed regulation would result in a net efficiency gain of just .02 percent, a virtual rounding error.
For Snitchler, the bottom line is the impact the policies and the growing transformer supply crisis could have on grid reliability. “I don’t think the public is going to be willing to have anything less than near-perfect reliability,” he concluded.
Source: Forbes
#American Public Power Association#Electric Power Supply Association#power grid#supply crisis