Planning for a Holistic and Resilient Energy System

A resilient energy system is essential to the operation of nearly every critical function and sector of the US economy as well as the communities that depend upon its services. As utilities, system operators, regulators, and policymakers deliberate the design and structure of future energy infrastructure, it’s important they consider the resilience of the entire energy system.

In a report for the American Gas Foundation, Building a Resilient Energy Future: How the Gas System Contributes to US Energy System Resilience, Guidehouse says this examination should include an analysis of the increasing interdependence of natural gas and electric systems and their dual role in creating a more resilient future.

The report highlights the gas system’s ability to support overall resilience through inherent physical and operational capabilities that enable it to meet the volatile demand profiles resulting from resilience events. In addition, the gas system has the ability to quickly respond to events and use extensive long duration storage resources to meet peak and seasonal demand.

“The increasing frequency and intensity of climatic events combined with the transformation of the energy system to one increasingly powered by intermittent renewable sources establish the need for a new consideration of the resilience of the energy system,” the report says. “Utilities, system operators, regulators, and policymakers need to recognize that resilience will be achieved through a diverse set of integrated assets—for the foreseeable future, policies need to focus on optimizing the characteristics of both the gas and electric systems.”