The gradual electrification of consumption and the rise in renewable energy sources call for more efficient transmission networks. Enter Grid-Enhancing Technologies, still underutilised but capable of delivering superior performance and savings.
To facilitate the energy transition and effectively meet the burgeoning demand for electricity while reducing emissions, substantial input from renewable sources and an efficient electrical system are crucial. Networks, the backbone of this system, are undergoing significant transformation.
The International Energy Agency, in its report “Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions”, indicates that to meet energy distribution targets set by individual countries, over 80 million kilometres of networks will need to be added or upgraded by 2040—a figure equivalent to the entire current global network.
The evolution of the energy system sees a growing contribution from renewable sources, notably solar and wind power, which are essential for dramatically cutting emissions and striving to cap global average temperature increases at 1.5°C, in line with the Paris Agreement.
According to the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2023, the share of electricity generated from renewables is expected to rise from 30% today to 50% by 2030, with further increases over the subsequent two decades. This shift necessitates interconnecting Renewable Energy Source (RES) facilities, enabling distributed generation to reach its full potential.
Currently, interconnection is severely hampered by the absence of new infrastructure and an aging system. In the European Union, 40% of distribution networks are over 40 years old [source: European Commission].
A similar situation exists in the USA, where much of the electrical grid was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s; 70% of transmission lines are more than 25 years old and nearing the end of their estimated 50-80 year lifespan [source: Department of Energy].
To enhance the situation sustainably and efficiently, increasing interest is being shown in Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GET). These hardware and software solutions, implemented within the existing transmission system, contribute to enhancing its capacity, flexibility, and efficiency.
TAKEAWAYS
Defining Grid-Enhancing Technologies
Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) play a critical role in enhancing the operational efficiency and strategic planning of the electrical transmission process. They primarily include Dynamic Line Rating (DLR), Power Flow Control (PFC), and Topology Optimization (TO) systems, which can be deployed individually or in a synergistic manner.
DLR systems employ a variety of data sources, such as temperature readings, solar radiation levels, and wind velocities, in conjunction with sensors to ascertain the real-time operational capacity of transmission lines.
By constantly monitoring these lines, DLR systems can identify moments when the lines are capable of conducting more current than their standard capacity allows. This is achieved by utilizing data to accurately gauge the conductor’s capacity for current transmission, taking into account all variables that affect its heat dissipation efficiency. Consequently, this enables energy providers to increment the volume of energy transmitted through existing infrastructure safely.
PFC devices act as sophisticated flow control tools, engineered to divert electrical energy from overburdened lines to those with available capacity. They offer solutions for managing thermal overloads and stabilizing voltage fluctuations by instantaneously redirecting electrical flow to bypass congested pathways.
Topology Optimization (TO) approaches encompass an array of software and hardware elements, including sensors, intelligent meters, and surveillance devices. The software component is designed to identify adjustments within the transmission system layout that could alleviate line constraints by redirecting electrical flows. Meanwhile, the hardware elements are tasked with collecting vital, real-time data, thus empowering network managers to make well-informed decisions and rapidly adapt to evolving scenarios.
The benefits of Grid-Enhancing Technologies for realising an efficient electrical system
The adoption of Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GET) is forecasted to bring a myriad of benefits towards the evolution of an efficient electrical system. As noted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, GETs have the potential to augment the capacity of the current grid, thus diminishing – or altogether circumventing – the necessity for constructing new transmission assets in the future. This assertion is encapsulated in Order 2023, a regulatory edict promulgated in the United States, which articulates:
«The cost-saving potential afforded by the application of GETs cannot be overstated. It presents a possibility to circumvent billions of dollars in expenses related to the construction of new transmission resources»
These grid enhancement technologies are deployed within the existing network infrastructure, markedly and swiftly elevating its performance. They facilitate the seamless integration of renewable energy sources and optimize the grid’s prevailing capacity. Consider, for instance, the DLR (Dynamic Line Rating) systems. These encompass both hardware and software enabling real-time adjustments to the thermal limits previously calculated for existing transmission lines, as elucidated by the United States Department of Energy in the article “Grid-Enhancing Technologies: From R&D to Reality“:
«On brisk or blustery days, electrical lines are capable of transmitting up to 50% more energy than their designated limits»
A study by the Rocky Mountain Institute, entitled “GETting Interconnected in PJM”, underscores the advantages of GETs not merely for enhancing existing infrastructure but also in streamlining the interconnection of novel infrastructures.
Prior to integrating a new renewable energy generation facility, power transmission operators are tasked with conducting impact assessments to identify necessary modifications for its connection. This entails a convoluted procedure where projects are catalogued into specific lists known as “interconnection queues”, which are increasingly extending.
Per the findings from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in “Queued Up: Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection”, the volume of new generation capacity from renewable energy sources queued for interconnection, encompassing both production (1,260 GW) and storage (680 GW), surpasses the capacity of the extant U.S. electrical system.
The analysis conducted by the Rocky Mountain Institute reveals that GETs could potentially streamline the cost-effective interconnection of 6.6 GW of new solar, wind, and storage projects by 2027 across the five states examined.
Moreover, by integrating new renewable energy projects facilitated by GETs with efforts to alleviate congestion, there is the prospect of reducing energy production costs by approximately one billion dollars annually until 2030.
Towards an efficient electrical system: the future of Grid Enhancing Technologies hinges on drones, digital twins, and machine learning
Establishing the foundation for an efficient electrical system necessitates not only the application of Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) but also widespread dissemination of knowledge regarding their potential. The scant utilisation of these technologies marks one of their most significant limitations thus far.
The TOGETs initiative (Transmission Optimization with Grid Enhancing Technologies), spearheaded by the Idaho National Laboratory, emerged to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding these innovations. Its mission is to rigorously test, authenticate, and ratify these specific technologies.
In a notable move last November, the Department of Energy earmarked $8.4 million to bolster research and development efforts focused on the deployment of various GET solutions across four pivotal projects. Among these, a project helmed by the Georgia Tech Research Corporation is dedicated to crafting tools for the modelling and optimisation of multiple implementations and devising mechanisms for the seamless integration of these technologies into pre-existing frameworks. Success in this endeavour would equip system operators and stakeholders with actionable, field-tested models for Advanced Power Flow Control and Dynamic Line Rating (DLR).
A separate grant supports a project aimed at pioneering digital twins to augment transmission capacity and alleviate congestion—a persistent challenge for renewable energy sources.
NV Energy, leading this research, is set to examine the capability of electrical lines and devise strategies to bolster the transmission network’s resilience. A key focus will be determining the optimal placement of sensors to ensure efficiency by minimising their numbers.
Additionally, €2.1 million has been allocated to Pitch Aeronautics for their innovative development of a drone designed for the installation of sensors on energised electrical lines, a venture presently in its experimental phase at the Idaho National Laboratory. These sensors are engineered to wirelessly relay meteorological and line condition data to a centrally accessible database via API. In collaboration with INL, Pitch Aeronautics is also advancing the development of a drone-deployable DLR sensor.
The University of Connecticut is set to receive the fourth and final grant, tasked with the validation, refinement, and on-field demonstration of a project aimed at introducing new solar-powered DLR sensors along transmission lines in Massachusetts. This state is poised to host its inaugural offshore wind farm.
Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence techniques into future smart grids and the enhancement of GETs appears increasingly plausible.
In this context, a study titled “Dynamic Line Rating Forecasting Algorithm for a Secure Power System Network” by researchers at Universiti Sains Malaysia merits attention. This team has devised a machine learning algorithm capable of enhancing DLR forecasting accuracy by leveraging real-time atmospheric and line data analysis to optimise the energy transmission capacity.
Glimpses of Futures
The widespread adoption of Grid-Enhancing Technologies can significantly contribute to the improvement of the network. To achieve national energy and climate goals, the International Energy Agency (IEA) states that global electricity consumption must surge by 20% more rapidly over the next decade compared to the previous one. In the IEA’s 2050 Net Zero Emissions scenario, wind and solar power are projected to represent nearly 90% of this increase.
These considerations underscore the urgent need for substantial advancements in crafting an efficient, intelligent, more contemporary, and expanded electrical system.
By applying the STEPS matrix, we endeavour to project future scenarios, evaluating the potential societal, technological, economic, political, and environmental impacts arising from the advancement of technologies designed to bolster the electrical grid.
S – SOCIAL: an inefficient or overloaded electrical grid can precipitate blackout incidents, causing disruptions and safety hazards for the populace. The 2021 power failures triggered by Winter Storm Uri in Texas, as reported by Time, resulted in the tragic loss of over 240 lives and left more than 4 million homes and businesses without electricity and heating. The implementation of Grid-Enhancing Technologies could yield operational cost savings, which in turn would be beneficial for consumers by lowering their bills and ensuring a more equitable and sustainable access to energy, especially for households in financial hardship.
T – TECHNOLOGICAL: technologies aimed at optimizing the network, including sophisticated monitoring and control systems, real-time data analytics, and predictive maintenance, can enhance grid resilience. Furthermore, GETs facilitate the flawless integration of distributed energy resources, such as residential solar installations, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles, into the network. These innovations support bi-directional energy flows (pending the feasibility of vehicle-to-grid technology), enabling distributed energy resources to play a larger role in enhancing the grid’s stability and reliability.
E – ECONOMIC: the adoption of GETs is poised to deliver tangible economic and employment advantages. According to a report by The Brattle Group, “Unlocking the Queue with Grid-Enhancing Technologies”, the United States could realize more than 5 billion dollars in savings on production costs, generate over 330,000 jobs in the first year, and sustain nearly 20,000 long-term jobs. In contrast, the slow proliferation of electricity from renewable sources curtails economic growth, as underscored in the “Seeds of Opportunity” study by RMI. By 2030, it is anticipated that rural communities could garner 11 billion dollars annually from wind and solar projects expected to be operational by that time: «… the longer these projects are delayed, the more prolonged is the wait for capital investments and, consequently, job creation».
P – POLITICAL: the deployment of GETs within the US electrical framework is championed by the previously mentioned Order 2023, deemed critical for the energy sector’s evolution, particularly in terms of integrating new generation facilities into the national grid. In Europe, the Clean Energy Package mandates a compulsory minimum target of 70% capacity for electrical interconnectors available for inter-zone trade, to be met by the entire EU transmission system within operational safety margins. Presently, this target remains elusive. The employment of Grid-Enhancing Technologies is anticipated to aid in achieving this objective, as noted by CurrENT, an industrial association representing pioneering network technology companies in Europe. In its report, “Grid Enhancing Technologies supporting TSOs to achieve the 70% target“, there is an appeal for the European Commission to release a study on the benefits of GETs towards fulfilling the 70% target and to provide guidance for NECPs.
S – SUSTAINABILITY: GET solutions are engineered to elevate the electrical system’s efficiency and promote the integration of renewable energy sources. This facet has a beneficial environmental impact: per the Brattle Group’s report, the adoption of Grid-Enhancing Technologies would lead to an annual CO2 equivalent reduction of 90 million tonnes, «amply compensating for the annual sale of new vehicles in the United States».
