HIGH PERFORMANCE CONDUCTORS FOR A LOW CARBON WORLD™ | | Bipartisan Energy Bill Proposes FERC Authority Boost and Interregional Planning Mandate and Support Advanced Conductors | | |
Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso have introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, a bipartisan effort aimed at enhancing energy project approvals and transmission infrastructure planning. This initiative, backed by industry groups like the American Clean Power Association and Solar Energy Industries Association, empowers the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with broader authority to approve transmission lines under new national interest criteria.
Central to the bill is a mandate for interregional transmission planning, requiring neighboring regions to collaboratively draft plans that optimize grid reliability and affordability. It also introduces provisions incentivizing the use of advanced conductors to maximize existing infrastructure efficiency. Specifically, it requires consideration of advanced conductors and reconductoring as means of maximizing the transmission capabilities, and prioritizes the use of existing rights-of-way and advanced conductors to lower impacts and costs.
| | | | CTC Global Expands Board of Directors with Industry Veterans Miranda Ballentine and Jim Laurito | “We are thrilled to welcome Miranda Ballentine and Jim Laurito to CTC’s Board of Directors. Their exceptional leadership and deep industry expertise will fortify our strategic initiatives as we navigate the evolving landscape of grid modernization and the global energy transformation.” | | | | T&D India Interviews Ms. Anne McDowell, VP Commercial Operations - CTC Global | In a very significant development, CTC Global very recently opened its first manufacturing facility in India, located at Pune in Maharashtra, bringing it closer to a growing market that it has been serving for over ten years. T&D India met up with Anne McDowell, Vice President – Commercial Operations & Marketing, CTC Global, at the company’s formal plant inauguration ceremony. In this exclusive interview, Anne McDowell takes us through the company’s exciting journey in India. She exudes confidence in the high business potential of the Indian market, and believes that India will continue to be an important part of CTC Global’s worldwide business. An interview by Venugopal Pillai. | | | | How the ACCC® Conductor Compares to Other Composite Core Conductor Technologies | The ACCC® Conductor, introduced by CTC Global between 2003 and 2005, represents a significant advancement in composite core conductor technology. Despite the emergence of competitive technologies such as HVCRC, multi-strand composites like ACFR, and aluminum-encapsulated designs like LoSag™, the ACCC® Conductor's extensive testing and deployment across over 1,325 projects in 67 countries underscore its operational reliability and efficiency. The paper discusses the ACCC® Conductor’s performance advantages, its comparison with other technologies, and considerations regarding encapsulation and core designs, highlighting CTC Global’s leadership and innovation in the field of advanced conductors. | | | | TenneT Completes Netherland’s 32 km ENS-ZL 380 kV Reconductor Project | CTC Global is very grateful to have been part of the TenneT TSO B.V. Netherland’s ENS-ZL 380 kV (Ens-Zwolle) line upgrade, in spite of some very challenging weather conditions. TenneT’s adoption of the ACCC® Conductor increased line capacity from 2,500 to 4,000 amps while increasing ground clearance with a minimum of civil works. The ACCC InfoCore® System was utilized on this project which provided ‘peace of mind’ to all stakeholders without disrupting the project flow. | | | |
7 ACCC® Projects Recently Completed
87 ACCC® Projects Under Construction
140 ACCC® Projects in the Queue
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August 25-30, 2024 | Paris, France
Established in 1921 in Paris, CIGRE is a global community committed to the collaborative development and sharing of power system expertise. The community features thousands of professionals from over 90 countries and 1250 member organizations, including some of the world’s leading experts. At its heart are CIGRE’s 59 in-country National Committees offering diverse technical perspectives and expertise from every corner of the globe. Stop by and connect with CTC Global's team at Stand S1P11.
| | | | Northwest Energy Summit Highlights Path to Sustainable Future | U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Ron Wyden joined regional energy stakeholders in Seattle to discuss solutions for meeting the Pacific Northwest’s escalating energy demands sustainably. With over 200 attendees, including major industry players and government agencies, the summit highlighted a projected 30% increase in electricity demand by 2030. Key discussions focused on leveraging advanced reconductoring to optimize the grid and integrate renewable energy sources efficiently. | | | | NARUC Summer Policy Conference 2024 |
Held in West Palm Beach, Florida, this year's summer policy conference covered topics ranging from energy policy to load growth. CTC Global's David Townley was onsite to participate in panel sessions and answer questions when visitors stopped by CTC Global's display table. There was significant interest from NARUC attendees in Advanced Reconductoring with carbon composite Advanced Conductors. Look forward to seeing you at the winter meeting.
| | | | Held at the Omni Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts, the WIRES Group Summer Meeting included a keynote address by Jim Robb, CEO of NERC and several outstanding panel sessions by well know members of the electric power community. CTC Global’s Alfie Wilkes was at the event to support the panelists and answer questions about advanced conductors. | | RECENTLY PUBLISHED REPORTS | | | | Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee Publishes Forecast Report | According to this report by the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee, electricity demand in the Northwest is expected to increase by over 30% in the next decade -- triple the prediction just three years ago. The use of Advanced Conductors will help meet the challenges described in this enlightening report. | | | | NERC & NAE: Evolving Planning Criteria for a Sustainable Power Grid | This report summarizes the outcomes and recommendations from the NERC and NAE workshop on "Evolving Planning Criteria for a Sustainable Power Grid." Industry leaders convened to address electric reliability criteria for resource and transmission adequacy amid ongoing grid transformation, focusing on enhancing criteria, actionable short- and long-term recommendations, and next steps in capacity vs. energy and transmission grid planning. The evaluation and use of Advanced Conductors will be an important part of this process moving forward. | | | | Energy Systems Integration Group: New Resource Adequacy Criteria for the Energy Transition | Utilities and grid operators face retiring fossil-fueled plants, potential fuel disruptions, rising electricity demand, and severe weather events. These issues are compounded by variable renewable energy and limited energy storage, changing demand from electrification, and climate change impacts. Globally, resource adequacy frameworks are being reevaluated to ensure supply-side, demand-side, and transmission resources can meet electricity demand despite outages. Adequate power supply must accommodate load variations, fuel availability shifts, and weather-related changes in renewable energy production. Increasing transmission capacity, particularly through advanced high-capacity conductors, will be crucial for a sustainable energy future. | | | | Energy Institute at Haas Updates “Accelerating Transmission Expansion by Using Advanced Conductors in Existing Right-of-Way” | First released in November 2023, The Energy Institute at Haas Berkley and Grid Lab paper (updated February 2024) presents tremendous insight into the vast benefits of updating the existing grid using ACCC® Conductor. The paper was also presented in a recorded webinar that provided additional details. | | | | ET EnergyWorld Interview with CTC Global's CEO Mr. J.D. Sitton During visit to India | ET EnergyWorld taped an exclusive in-depth discussion with J.D. Sitton, the CEO of CTC Global, as he shared his visionary perspectives at the Transmission and Distribution Conclave. Mr. Sitton described how innovative strategies and technologies are set to energize tomorrow and revolutionize the future of energy transmission and distribution. | | | | |
