The California ISO (CAISO) selected Lotus Infrastructure Global Operations in association with Southern California Edison Company as the approved project sponsor to finance, construct, own, operate and maintain the North of SONGS – Serrano 500kV Transmission Line Project.
The ISO conducted an analysis of four qualified project sponsors and their five applications. The analysis included assessing the degree that each project sponsor met the selection factors and qualification criteria under the ISO tariff.
In its 2022-2023 transmission planning process, the ISO identified a policy-driven need for this transmission project, it said.
The project will include:
- A new 500/230 kV North of SONGS Substation with the 500 kV and 230 kV buswork and termination equipment at North of SONGS Substation, and with the equipment at North of SONGS Substation;
- Three new 500/230 kV transformers at North of SONGS Substation;
- A new 145-mile 500 kV transmission line from Imperial Valley Substation to North of SONGS Substation;
- An interconnection of the existing San Onofre-Santiago 230 kV #1 and #2 lines and the San Onofre-Viejo 230 kV line into the North of SONGS Substation; and
- New 500 kV line compensation (series capacitors) of 40%, and a line reactor at North of SONGS Substation on the Imperial Valley-North of SONGS transmission line.
In its 20 Year Transmission Outlook, released May 2022, CAISO laid out the transmission developments it argues are necessary for upgrades to the existing ISO footprint, offshore wind integration, and out-of-state wind integration:
- Upgrades to existing ISO bulk transmission footprint consisting of 230 kV and 500 kV AC lines, HVDC lines, and substation upgrades. Estimated cost: $10.74 billion.
- Offshore wind integration consisting of 500 kV AC lines and HVDC lines. Estimated cost: $8.11 billion.
- Out-of-state wind integration consisting of 500 kV AC lines and HVDC lines. Estimated cost: $11.65 billion.
