National Grid and Eversource advance New England’s network resilience
National Grid has announced the completion of a portion of the Ready Path Solution, the grid reliability project for the Boston region.
National Grid recently completed installation of new equipment at its substations in Amesbury and Haverhill, Massachusetts.
The control system upgrades made at these substations will allow the electric transmission network to respond quickly and reliably to certain contingencies and avert transmission line overloads. This work was completed on budget and ahead of schedule.
The system upgrades form part of National Grid and Eversource’s Ready Path Solution, a roadmap developed by the utilities to ensure the stability of the grid.
Developed in light of the closing of the Mystic Generating Station, the Ready Path project involves the installation of new equipment at several substations to improve transmission system stability and redirect power flows.
Have you read:
National Grid releases 2050 fossil-free plan and clean energy vision
National Grid and Eversource propose plans for Boston’s energy transition
Ofgem supports National Grid with £1.5m for energy network innovation
The full project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2023, ahead of the station’s retirement.
“Both National Grid and Eversource are making steady progress on the Ready Path project,” said Stephen Woerner, president of National Grid New England.
“The retirement of the Mystic plant will help reduce fossil fuels in our New England energy mix, and this project will cost-effectively maintain reliable electricity to meet the Greater Boston region’s needs.”
In January 2022, Eversource announced completion of its portion of the Ready Path Solution, having finished installation of equipment at its existing North Cambridge substation to direct power flows more efficiently. Eversource’s work was also completed on budget and ahead of schedule.
National Grid is continuing work on the final piece of the Ready Path Solution, installing equipment at its substation in Tewksbury.
“Ready Path was chosen as the most cost-effective solution to maintain system reliability – providing significant financial and environmental benefits to customers while also helping to ensure access to new sources of clean, renewable energy,” stated Bill Quinlan, president of transmission and offshore wind projects, Eversource Energy.
“This critical project’s continued progress to be complete ahead of schedule is great news for reliability in the region.”
The Ready Path Solution is the first competitively awarded reliability project chosen by ISO New England (ISO-NE), the region’s independent power grid operator.
National Grid and Eversource partnered on the project as part of a collaboration to maintain the reliability of the region’s electric system.
