Brattle Experts Highlight the Need to Modernize Southeast Regional Transmission Planning in a New Report
Prepared for the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA), the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), and the Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA)
Brattle experts recently prepared a report for the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA), the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), and the Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) with funding from Clean Grid Initiative on the need to modernize regional transmission investment in the Southeast.
The need for Southeast regional grid investments is being driven by the large increase in load growth (20 GW) over the next 10 years due to new manufacturing and data centers across the region. Utility resource plans identify a need for over 80 GW of new generation to serve the higher demand. At the same time, the increasing severity and frequency of winter storms across the Southeast have created new reliability risks that drive the need for regional and interregional upgrades.
The authors recommend that Southeast Regional Transmission Planning (SERTP) implement the following changes to its regional planning process to reduce long-term system costs and risks. These reforms leverage best practices from across the industry for implementing multi-value, scenario-based transmission planning and will ensure that the Southeast’s transmission system is better prepared for future energy needs while keeping costs low, reliability high, and regulatory burdens minimal.
- Improve Transparency
- Support Active State Role
- Fully Utilize Existing System
- Study Multiple Future Scenarios
- Accurately Model Congestion
- Develop Benefits Analysis Guidelines
- Implement Multi-Driver Needs Analysis
- Estimate Benefits Over Full Asset Life
- Develop Fair Cost Allocation
To demonstrate the value for regional transmission, the authors performed a high-level analysis of three 500 kV upgrades SERTP identified in its 2024 process based on historical data. They estimated $8 billion in benefits compared to $5 billion in costs, resulting in at least $3 billion of net benefits.
The report summary and the full report, “Modernizing Southeast Grid Investments: How Enhanced Regional Transmission Planning Supports a Growing Economy,” are available below. The report is authored by Principal Michael Hagerty, Energy Research Associate Peter Heller, and Energy Specialist Evan Bennett.
