A recent study conducted by the University of California in collaboration with GridLab has revealed new findings on the potential of reconductoring to significantly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the U.S. electricity grid. The research indicates that replacing existing power lines with advanced conductors could help bring about a cleaner and more cost-effective energy future.
“If the U.S. transmission build-out rate does not increase dramatically, transmission capacity will be insufficient to meet clean energy goals and serve the electrification demands of U.S. industrial growth,” the study’s authors wrote. “This report identifies one such option reconductoring with advanced conductors in existing corridors, as particularly promising; explains the technology; and demonstrates its viability as an efficient, cost-effective, implementation-ready solution that is deployable to scale.”
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According to the report’s findings, reconductoring could facilitate the transition to a power sector where up to 90% of electricity is sourced from clean energy by 2035. This shift is projected to yield savings for consumers on their energy bills, potentially reducing electricity costs by an average of 3%-4%.
The study identifies nearly all of the nation’s transmission lines — approximately 98% — as viable candidates for reconductoring. By upgrading infrastructure with advanced conductors, the capacity to deliver power to consumers could be quadrupled, offering significant economic benefits. The estimated total savings for Americans could reach $85 billion by 2035 and potentially escalate to $180 billion by 2050.
“Reconductoring with advanced conductors can rapidly and cost-effectively provide substantial increases of transmission capacity in the near-term,” the report said. “This unlocks access to lower-cost, higher-quality clean energy in more locations across the country, thereby lowering wholesale electricity costs.”
However, the transition to reconductoring comes with a considerable upfront cost. The study indicates that reconductoring projects typically require around 20% more investment than constructing new transmission lines. At a scale large enough to realize consumer and environmental benefits, the projected cost of reconductoring is estimated to be approximately $740 billion.
Despite the substantial financial investment required, reconductoring presents advantages in terms of time efficiency. Unlike the construction of new transmission lines, which can take between five to 15 years to complete on average, reconductoring projects typically have shorter timelines, ranging from 18 months to three years.
“While research shows the vast potential for customer savings and clean energy deployment, using these conductors has lagged as utilities and their regulators avoid higher up-front costs despite significant benefits, instead sticking to the status quo,” the authors of the report concluded. “The technology is ready and now is the time for implementation.”
[JACK AYLMER]
A WORLD WHERE ALMOST ALL OUR ELECTRICITY COMES FROM CLEAN POWER SOURCES.
AND IT’S CHEAPER FOR PEOPLE TO USE.
IT’S WITHIN OUR REACH.
THERE’S JUST ONE THING THE U.S. NEEDS TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
IF AMERICAN POWER LINES WERE REPLACED WITH ADVANCED CONDUCTORS, IT WOULD ENABLE 90 PERCENT OF POWER TO BE CLEAN BY 2035.
IT’S A PROCESS CALLED RECONDUCTORING.
THIS COULD ALSO REDUCE ELECTRICITY COSTS FOR PEOPLE BY ABOUT 3 TO 4 PERCENT ON AVERAGE.
AND THE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT CAN BE SENT OUT TO AMERICANS WOULD BE QUADRUPLED.
THAT’S ACCORDING TO A STUDY DONE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IN COLLABORATION WITH ENERGY EXPERTS AT GRIDLAB.
THEY FOUND THAT 98 PERCENT OF THE NATION’S TRANSMISSION LINES ARE IDEAL CANDIDATES FOR RECONDUCTORING.
IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN COULD SAVE AMERICANS A TOTAL OF $85 BILLION ON THEIR ENERGY BILLS COME 2035.
BY 2050, THOSE SAVINGS WOULD JUMP TO $180 BILLION.
ALL WHILE HITTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S GOAL OF CREATING A CARBON POLLUTION-FREE POWER SECTOR IN THE MID-2030’S.
BUT THERE IS A MAJOR UPFRONT COST TO THIS.
RECONDUCTORING COSTS ABOUT 20 PERCENT MORE THAN BUILDING NEW TRANSMISSION LINES.
AND DOING IT AT A SCALE LARGE ENOUGH TO SEE THOSE CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, WOULD COST AROUND $740 BILLION.
THE UPSIDE IS, RECONDUCTORING DOES TAKE LESS TIME.
BUILDING NEW LINES CAN FIVE TO 15 YEARS TO COMPLETE ON AVERAGE.
REPLACING THEM WITH ADVANCED CONDUCTORS TYPICALLY ONLY TAKES BETWEEN 18 MONTHS AND THREE YEARS.
MEANING EVEN THE MOST TIME CONSUMING RECONDUCTORING PROJECTS CAN STILL TAKE LESS TIME TO FINISH THEN THE FASTEST TRANSMISSION LINE INSTALLMENTS.
SO, ARE THE BENEFITS WORTH THE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS THAT WOULD NEED TO SPENT TO REALIZE THEM?
THE REPORT’S AUTHORS AT UC BERKELEY AND GRIDLAB SAY SO.
ACCORDING TO THEM, RECONDUCTORING TECHNOLOGY IS READY AND NOW IS THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT IT.
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