Long-Range Power-System Planning

Where this fits

Coordinate generation, transmission, distribution, storage and demand under uncertainty.

Core system ideas

Planning evaluates future demand, resource retirements/additions, network limits and reliability criteria.

Projects have different lead times, so near-term operating needs and long-term infrastructure choices must be coordinated.

Scenario analysis is important because fuel, technology, policy and demand can change.

Interfaces and tradeoffs

Planning uses scenarios because demand, resource additions, retirements, weather, project timing and technology are uncertain. Models are decision aids rather than perfect predictions.

What organizations measure

Demand scenarios, resource adequacy, congestion, project lead time, cost and reliability.