WECC 2012
Annual Progress
Report
Submitted by
Centennial West
Clean Line LLC
ISSUED: March 1, 2012
PROJECT NUMBER:
2012-CW001
PROJECT CONTACT:
Mark Etherton, P.E.
EMAIL:
Mark.Etherton@POWERENG.COM
PHONE:
480-838-1427
POWER ENGINEERS, INC.
3231 SOUTH COUNTRY CLUB WAY
SUITE 103
TEMPE, AZ85282
0
Table of Contents
I.
Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
II.
Project Description ------------------------------------------------------------------
2
III.
Plan of Service ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
IV
Project’s Current Status-------------------------------------------------------------
3
V.
Planned Project In-Service Date --------------------------------------------------
3
VI.
Centennial West Transmission Configuration-----------------------------------
4
VII. California-Arizona-New Mexico EHV System----------------------------------
5
List of Figures
Figure 1: Centennial West Clean Line HVDC Transmission Project
One-Line Diagram
Figure 2: California – Arizona - New Mexico Regional EHV
Transmission Map
i
Centennial West Clean Line HVDC Project
WECC 2012 Annual Progress Report
I.
INTRODUCTION
The Centennial West Clean Line HVDC Transmission Project (“Project”) is a proposed
3,500MW approximately 900 mile, ±600kV, multi-terminal HVDC transmission project between
northeastern New Mexico, north-central Arizona, and southern California. The proposed inservice date of the Project is Q1 2018. The sponsor of the Project is Centennial West Clean Line
LLC (“Project Sponsor”) and is a subsidiary of Clean Line Energy Partners LLC with
headquarters in Houston, Texas.
The proposed routing and terminations between north eastern New Mexico, north-central
Arizona, and southern California will be determined over the course of the permitting and will be
detailed as part of the Comprehensive Progress Report. The project provides opportunities for
the potential to remove constraints at the Four Corners area, the northern portion of the West of
River system and south of Eldorado and Lugo as well as counter flow to expected heavy
transfers from north of Lugo. Additionally, it will also allow renewable generation to be
transferred from New Mexico and Arizona into southern California without aggravating or
creating additional constraints on the existing transmission systems across WECC. Exhibit 1
illustrates the Project study area and additional specifications.
Exhibit 1: Centennial West Clean Line HVDC Project Study Area
1
While the HVDC technology is still under review, the Voltage Source Converter (“VSC”)
technology will provide the Project greater flexibility due to the limitations of short circuit
availability in northeastern New Mexico. The proposed interconnection in AZ is under review
and may or may not include a tie to the existing AC system. The proposed termination in the
southern California load pocket is the Lugo 500kV substation. The final Phase 1 Comprehensive
Progress Report, expected to be completed by Q2 2012, will detail the proposed terminations.
On September 16, 2011, Centennial West Clean Line submitted a notification letter to the WECC
Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) and Technical Studies Subcommittee (TSS) formally
initiating the regional planning project review process for Centennial West. To achieve Phase 1
status per the WECC Three Phase Path Rating Process, a Regional Planning Compliance Report
was submitted to PCC and TSS on September 11, 2011. On November 14, 2011, PCC accepted
the Centennial West Clean Line regional planning compliance report as complete.
In compliance with the WECC Procedure for Project Rating, a Comprehensive Progress Report
(CPR) will be prepared in August, 2012 and submitted to the WECC for approval according to
the WECC Path Rating Process.
II.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Centennial West Clean Line HVDC transmission project is currently envisioned to be
comprised of three VSC converters of +/- 600 kV (DC) and an approximately 900 mile
transmission line from the proposed converter station in renewable resource energy zone(s) in
northeastern New Mexico (referred in this report as “Centennial West NM”). A second
converter station in Arizona (referred in this report as “Centennial West AZ” and potentially
located near the existing Peacock 345 kV substation in northwestern Arizona operated by
Western Power Administration (WAPA)) will operate to interconnect additional solar resources
to the Project. Finally, the proposed converter station in southern California (referred to in this
report as “Centennial West CA”) will be located near the Lugo 500kV substation in SCE. .
III. PLAN OF SERVICE
A detailed conceptual plan of service for Centennial West is provided below:



Rectifier station (approx. 3850 MW capacity) - Centennial West
NM
Rectifier station (approx. 505 MW capacity) potentially near
Peacock 345kV substation – Centennial West AZ
Inverter station (approx. 3500 MW capacity) near Lugo Substation
– Centennial West CA
2


One new +/- 600 kV DC line from Centennial West NM to
Centennial West CA through Centennial West AZ (approx. 900
miles)
Fixed and dynamic reactive devices to be determined.
IV. PROJECT’S CURRENT STATUS
Centennial West is continuing to pursue completion of the WECC 3-phase rating process by the
end of 2013. Currently, the Phase 1 Rating Study is in progress and a comprehensive progress
report is expected to complete by the end of August 2012. It is anticipated that the simultaneous
and sensitivity studies will be completed and the Project will obtain Phase 3 status by the end
2013. The Project is seeking the necessary transmission project corridor through review of
potential alternative routes. In addition, the Project team is also working on the CAISO
interconnection study process for a March, 2012 submittal.
V.
PLANNED PROJECT IN-SERVICE DATE
Centennial West is anticipated to be in commercial service by the first quarter of 2018.
3
VI. CENTENNIAL WEST HVDC CONFIGURATION
The Centennial West HVDC Transmission Project One-Line Diagram is depicted in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Conceptual Centennial West Clean Line
VSC Transmission Project
New Mexico
Wind Collector
System*
Southern California
AC System***
AZ Solar
Collector System
**
* New Mexico Collector System: Consisting of four wind hubs connecting
to the NM converter station which will be rated at 3,850 MW. The gross
generation output is distributed as follows:

Wind Hub1: 1,000 MW

Wind Hub2: 1,000 MW

Wind Hub3: 1,200 MW

Wind Hub 4: 1,000 MW
Note that this includes overbuild to account for collector system, converter
station, and DC line losses as well as additional resources to enhance the
utilization rate of the DC line to not less than 50%.
** Interconnection Tap with AZ EHV System: An additional intermediate
interconnection will be located in AZ for collection of solar energy and
may have an AC tie with the Peacock 345kV substation.
 Solar Hub: 500MW
4
*** Southern California AC Support System: The proposed DC converter
interconnecting to the existing Lugo 500kV substation by tapping the
Lugo-Mira Loma and Lugo-Rancho Vista 500kV lines.
VII. ARIZONA-NEW MEXICO-CALIFORNIA SYSTEM
Figure 2, below, provides a geographical and electrical overview of the Extra High Voltage
(EHV) transmission system for California, Arizona and New Mexico. The Centennial West
Clean Line Transmission Project is generically identified on the map as a dashed orange line.
Figure 2: California-Arizona-New Mexico Regional EHV
Transmission Map with Centennial West
5