What is the methodology used in our Capacity data? See the answers to some basic questions.
Do you model the whole queue for an ISO?
We model projects with high certainty of completion, since modeling the entire queue is unrealistic. Most projects in the feasibility or system impact study stages will withdraw — we estimate that over 75% to 80% of projects in these stages are withdrawn.
To perform this analysis with high certainty, we typically model only those projects in the queue that have a signed Interconnection Agreement or have, at minimum, completed the Facilities Study.
Is the analysis historical or future-looking?
The grid injection modeling is future-looking.
Why is a future year case relevant?
The typical timeframe from an interconnection request to commercial operation is 3-5 years.
Transmission planning analyses use future-year scenarios within this range to account for conditions relevant to new projects' grid connection timelines. Furthermore, to ensure grid reliability and prevent outages from new resource integration, transmission planning studies examine the grid several years into the future to proactively identify potential limitations. Consequently, projects connecting before the study year can still gain significant understanding of the grid constraints they will likely encounter.
This approach is consistent with the evaluation procedures employed by both Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs).