USA, Illinois, Chicago: ComEd has energised two new 345 kV transmission substations, enabling the interconnection of up to 550 MW of wind generation in LaSalle and Woodford counties.
The new substations will support the future connection of two utility-scale wind farms: Osagrove Flats, with 150 MW of capacity, and Panther Grove, with 400 MW. The projects are expected to begin commercial operation in late 2026 and early 2027, respectively.
According to ComEd, the added capacity is equivalent to enough electricity to serve around 264,000 homes for one year. The company said the substations will help increase renewable generation supply while improving reliability across the wider transmission network.
ComEd said the investment comes as electricity demand continues to rise across the US and in Illinois, increasing pressure on regional power markets. The company said more generation resources and stronger grid infrastructure are needed to support long-term affordability and reliability.
The projects began in 2023 and were completed more than four months ahead of schedule. The work included over 113,000 hours of ComEd labour, the installation of 16 new transmission towers, more than 58 miles of fibre and nearly half a mile of new conductor.
ComEd is also using technologies such as Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) to make better use of existing grid capacity. The platform helps manage grid conditions dynamically, unlock additional hosting capacity and support faster connection of renewable energy projects.
To date, more than 1.7 GW of distributed energy resources have been connected to ComEd’s system, making Illinois a leading Midwestern state for DER capacity.
Source: Yahoo Finance
