EnergyOnline
Services

RSS FEED

EnergyOnline.com rss

News

NuScale Power Achieves Standard Design Approval from NRC for 77 MW SMR

LCG, May 30, 2025--NuScale Power Corporation (NuScale), a leading provider of advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, yesterday announced that it has received design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its uprated 77 MW power modules. NuScale states that it remains the only SMR technology company with design approval from the NRC, and the company remains on track for deployment by 2030, with 50- and 77-MW SMR options.

Read more

EIA Presents Analysis of California's Solar and Wind Power Curtailment Challenges

LCG, May 29, 2025--The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released an analysis yesterday showing that the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the grid operator for most of the state, is increasing its curtailment of the rapidly growing solar- and wind-powered generation facilities in order to balance electricity supply and demand, which is necessary to maintain a stable electric system.

Read more

Industry News

Feds Look at Plans to RelieveCalifornia Transmission Bottleneck

LCG, July 24, 2001Federal agencies will look at a baker's dozen plans to relieve the California electric power transmission bottleneck known as "Path 15," U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said yesterday.

Path 15, located in the state's Central Valley near the town of Los Banos, consists of two 500 kilovolt lines and severely restricts the ability to move bulk power between the northern and southern parts of California. Abraham is pushing for a third 500 kilovolt line to relieve the congestion.

"It is like adding lanes of traffic in a major thoroughfare," he said.

The Department of Energy estimates that the cost to upgrade the 84-mile Path 15 would be $230 million and take three or four years to complete, but Abraham said the cost could run as high as $300 million.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages the three-quarters of the state grid belonging to three investor-owned utilities, said that the bottleneck cost the state about $260 million over the past 16 months.

Path 15 is owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. which sought protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy law in April, having run up massive debt purchasing power at high wholesale prices for resale to customers at artificially low prices mandated by California's failed electric deregulation scheme. The utility does not have funds to handle the upgrade itself.

The federal Western Area Power Administration will review 13 "statements of interest" in the Path 15 and will issue a recommendation within the next few weeks.

Copyright © 2025 LCG Consulting. All rights reserved. Terms and Copyright
UPLAN-NPM
The Locational Marginal Price Model (LMP) Network Power Model
Uniform Storage Model
A Battery Simulation Model
UPLAN-ACE
Day Ahead and Real Time Market Simulation
UPLAN-G
The Gas Procurement and Competitive Analysis System
PLATO
Database of Plants, Loads, Assets, Transmission...
CAISO CRR Auctions
Monthly Price and Congestion Forecasting Service