Innovative Technology Work
As well as undertaking projects to increase capacity in the National Grid through upgrading and replacing existing assets or building new ones, Transpower has begun a five year work programme of innovative technology projects.
These projects look to improve the way we model, forecast and calculate our asset capability and capacity through an improved use of technology.
By improving our use of technology in running our assets on the power system, we can reduce our operating costs, defer more expensive new build and therefore reduce costs for the electricity industry and ultimately, consumers.
Enhanced Line Ratings Project
What we're doing
As part of the Innovative Technology Work Programme, we are carrying out a project to change the way we determine ratings of our transmission lines. Right now, we set our line ratings (ie the capacity of each line) based on the season - either winter or summer. The enhanced line ratings project aims to progressively improve the way in which we rate our lines, leading ultimately to a full trial of real-time (dynamic) line ratings.
This is a company-wide initiative, with both the Asset Owner and System Operator side of the business. The project is split into four distinct stages:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Shoulder Rating | Implement a spring / autumn rating period. |
| 2. Rating Methodology Review | Review and confirm the basic equations and parameters used to calculate line ratings. |
| 3. Variable Line Rating Implementation | Using historic weather data to more accurately calculate line ratings which will vary by region / line / line segment, and throughout the year. |
| 4. Dynamic Line Rating Trial | Using near real-time weather data to calculate line capacity. Involves significant changes to the market and live control tools to work. |
Why we're doing it
By changing our existing line rating methodology, we will be able to plan for outages better, determine line ratings more accurately, and increase capacity across the grid.