Maintaining adequate system security on an electric power grid requires a lot of planning, and then diligently applying planned measures. This task becomes more and more difficult as variable renewable generation—especially distributed energy resources—proliferate.

Electric Power Systems (EPS), based in Anchorage, Alaska, conducted a proprietary study to determine how the recently completed Power Supply Improvement Plan (PSIP) for the Hawaiian Electric Company could meet system reliability criteria. We worked with EPS to edit the technical details of the study and to present the results in a cogent and clear manner.

The study first assessed reliability using the existing transmission and distribution system, then with additional infrastructure and energy storage systems. The study analyzed several simulated cases to identify the security constraints and contingencies necessary to meet the reliability criteria.