Interconnection Requests

Growth, delays, higher costs

Interconnection Requests
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MISO recently announced its 2022 interconnection application deadline set a record with 956 applications submitted totaling 171 GW of new generation

In 2021 MISO saw 487 applications submitted totaling 77 GW

There was a MISO working group on Monday that discussed some of the data

Last week, Berkeley Lab released an analysis of MISO interconnection costs, noting the growing backlog has been met with escalating costs

Transmission congestion, interconnection queues, delays, and costs should be a primary focus for policy makers and investors

We take a look at Berkeley Lab interconnection data from 2021 as we await additional interconnection data from additional regions in the U.S.

Exponential Growth

MISO 2022 queue applications totaling 171 GW are up 122% vs last year.  We expect to see similarly lofty growth around the U.S. in 2022.

U.S.-wide active and in-progress interconnection requests totaled 846 GW in 2021.

Compare that to a 1,300 GW U.S. market.  Then more than double it at MISO's growth rate and there could potentially be interconnection requests in the U.S. queue totaling more capacity than currently installed.

The difference between the 846 MW total and 790 GW shown on the map is represented by offshore wind.

Notably, 41% of all request as of year-end 2021 were battery storage or proposed with combined generation and storage.

As always, things are bigger in Texas with 14% of interconnection requests.

MISO noted that 10-30% of applications are typically withdrawn over the first few months after submission, with additional subsequent withdrawals.  Before the 2022 data is fully-reported, 12 U.S. states already had interconnection requests with capacity in excess of currently installed power capacity, suggesting many of the projects will ultimately not move forward.


Look for additional data analysis around interconnection requests, the Inflation Reduction Act and permitting reform soon.


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