Linden VFT Merchant Transmission Project

ABSTRACT

GE is constructing the first, truly merchant transmission project wholly in the United States, and it is expected to be in commercial operation by the end of this year. This project, known as the Linden Variable Frequency Transformer (VFT) project, will create an additional 300 MW of controllable transmission capacity between the Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Maryland (PJM) Interconnection and the New York metropolitan area. The project, owned by GE’s energy investment arm GE Energy Financial Services, utilizes GE Energy’s VFT technology, a fully controllable, bidirectional transmission device that can transfer power between two asynchronous networks, making it uniquely suitable for this application. The objective of this presentation is to give a high-level overview of the development of the Linden VFT project from concept to commercialization. This presentation will touch on all the major project development steps such as project identification, selection of technology, interconnection process, open season process, transmission rights auction, interconnection agreement and site testing.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sundar Venkataraman is a Director with GE Energy Applications and Systems Engineering. In this capacity, he advises GE Energy and GE Energy Financial Services on generation and transmission related investments. His expertise is in the area of economic evaluation of generation and transmission assets in regulated, as well as deregulated markets in the U.S. He has also teaches various GE seminars on how the U.S. Power Industry is organized and how energy markets operate. Mr. Venkataraman started his career with GE as an Application Engineer and has nearly 15 years of experience in providing advisory services related to electricity markets, utility economics, power systems operation, and power plant engineering.

DIRECTIONS: 

The church is located just west of the intersection of Rosendale/Vly Rd and Rt. 7, on the corner of Niskayuna Rd and Rt. 7. There is plenty of parking, accessible from either Rt. 7 or Niskayuna Rd. The meeting will be in the large white meeting hall next to the church. Enter through the large glass doors at the lower level. Please note that there is no smoking allowed anywhere on the church grounds.

Map to Niskayuna Reformed Church
NOTE: Valley Road = Vly Road

LUNCH: 
Lunch is provided.

RESERVATIONS:  
Please contact Lou Tomaino at schdyieee (at) yahoo.com by Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9:00 AM to reserve. This event is free for IEEE members, $5.00 for non-members to help cover the cost of the room.

Please be courteous and cancel your reservation if you cannot attend so that we have a chance to adjust the food order and seating.