Planned Offshore Wind Transmission System for New York Could Provide Cost Savings of Over $500 Million, According to Study by Brattle Economists
Prepared for Anbaric
A new report on offshore wind transmission by Brattle economists finds estimated electric grid cost savings of over $500 million and significantly reduced environmental impacts and project risks in developing a multi-user, planned transmission system for offshore wind in New York.
Prepared for Anbaric as a contribution to New York’s ongoing offshore wind development efforts, the Brattle analysis compares the potential costs and benefits of alternative offshore transmission options. The study evaluates the challenges of connecting each wind farm to shore individually in comparison to a planned approach—a high-capacity offshore wind transmission system serving multiple wind farms, reducing marine cabling, and optimizing onshore landing points, routes and electric substations.
The authors find that a planned approach toward offshore wind transmission can lower overall costs by making best use of scarce cable routes and points of interconnection (POIs), and additionally leveraging competition among both transmission developers and between off-shore wind generators. Planned transmission would further reduce power losses, more easily reduce offshore wind curtailments, and more fully utilize offshore wind lease areas.
The study, Offshore Wind Transmission: An Analysis of Options for New York, is authored by Brattle Principals Johannes Pfeifenberger and Sam Newell, and Associates Walter Graf and Kasparas Spokas. More information and a video recording of the study’s presentation and panel discussion with other offshore wind experts is available here. A summary of the study is available in these slides presented at the LCV Virtual Policy Forum “Offshore Wind Transmission to Reach New York’s Clean Energy Goals.”
