As CEO of Ampacimon, and a power industry veteran, one of the most important things I do is talk to customers about their challenges and successes. Never before have these conversations been so focused on a single critical topic that leads to an overarching consensus: the world needs power grid modernization now if it is to meet clean energy goals. The U.S. National Council of State Legislatures estimates that utilities will spend up to $2 trillion on grid modernization by 2030 to increase grid capacity and reliability. Many utilities’ modernization strategies include increasing capacity for the interconnection of renewable energy sources. But the large interconnection queue, caused primarily by transmission line congestion, threatens the broad deployment of renewables and the nation’s ability to meet its clean energy goals. A recent Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory study found that nearly 2,000 gigawatts of solar, storage, and wind languish in transmission grid interconnection queues.
We are working with utilities across the U.S. and Europe to mitigate their grid congestion issues through Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) systems. DLR rating systems monitor the state of transmission and distribution lines to help solve congestion and reliability issues. Sensors clamp onto the lines and provide real-time data on electrical capacity and anomalies that might cause line congestion or failure. They monitor line sag, conductor temperatures, and wind speed, all of which impact capacity. Using DLR, utilities can accurately understand grid capacity and prioritize improvement and modernization projects accordingly.
Making DLR Data Actionable
Line rating data from DLR sensors helps utility operators track line conditions to ensure conductor temperatures do not rise to the point where excessive sagging occurs, causing lost line capacity. It is important to select DLR technology that can factor in wind speed and direction to increase accuracy. Using sensor data, operators can track several factors that can affect line temperature and therefore line capacity and congestion. Using DLR technology, operators often discover double digit gains.
The U.S. Department of Energy issued a report on Dynamic Line Rating in June of 2019 which illustrates the data required for operators to utilize DLR in their decision-making processes. In their chart below, the bright blue line shows DLR data in 30-minute intervals with a 30% cap above the static line rating (SLR). The light blue line shows the real-time, unfiltered DLR data. The orange and dark blue lines show intermediate filtering steps. This is one example of how DLR data can create actionable insights that help operators identify additional capacity in their existing infrastructure.
Real world example
One large utility in the Northeast U.S. deployed DLR sensors across overhead transmission lines and began monitoring the lines in late 2022. As sensors collect information from the grid, data is delivered to a central analytics server via cellular. These real-time ratings are then incorporated into the utility’s central operations system and used as a critical source of information to evaluate real-time and predictive conditions. Captured data provides a holistic view of transmission line performance and enables the team to make real-time adjustments to increase the amount of electricity delivered over transmission lines, decrease line congestion, or implement optimization or reliability strategies.
DLR sensor data is also used to forecast energy requirements and to create baseline energy use metrics. With this information, the utility sends hourly day-ahead forecasts to their regional transmission organization. With a wealth of historical data being continually collected, the utility can compare real-time ratings from the sensors against a static ambient adjusted ratings table, giving them perspective on current performance and informing their forecast estimates.
"Using line rating technology is one of many steps that utilities are taking to modernize the grid, find new efficiencies, and prepare for more clean energy resources to be brought online," said Neil Chatterjee, former chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee and Ampacimon board member. “Improving our energy infrastructure and promoting the wider adoption of clean energy is a national imperative that we can’t ignore.”
DLR systems quickly deliver benefits to the utility and their customers. In the first year, many of our customers are seeing millions in ROI and a reduction of the renewable backlog.
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Discover 10%-50% more line capacity through real-time DLR rating.
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Optimize line capacity for smoother peak demand periods.
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Reduce the backlog of renewable energy sources being brought online.
Implementing a DLR system across the grid requires significant identification and measurement of potentially congested areas. Many utilities require 12-24 months to properly evaluate, plan, and execute an initial grid capacity modernization strategy. Once the core system is implemented, however, new lines can be added to the monitored network quickly and easily. To get started, consider the following:
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What areas of congestion exist across your grid?
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How much renewable energy is in the interconnection queue?
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Have you conducted line studies that include geo-spatial modeling of the grid and determine where DLR sensors are most likely to relieve congestion?
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Working with experts, do you know what capacity gains you may achieve?
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Is it possible to deploy DLR in a limited fashion to gain an accurate capacity evaluation of your most congested areas?
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With accurate congestion analysis, could you create a broad-based grid capacity plan using DLR technology?
Utilities are invited to work with us to create an evaluation plan to discover potential areas of grid optimization and modernization. Visit ampacimon.com for more information about the sensors or contact us to discuss a DLR evaluation plan.