Department of Energy Funds Five More Grid Enhancing Technologies Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy announced over $185 million in federal cost-share for five Grid Enhancing Technology projects aimed at enhancing the resilience, capacity, and efficiency of the U.S. power grid. These projects, part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, will increase transmission capacity to reduce costs, meet growing demand from increased manufacturing and electrification, and protect infrastructure during extreme weather.

Excerpts from project announcements for Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR):

Arizona Public Service Company: Enhancing Arizona’s Smart, Resilience Grid Infrastructure

Arizona Public Service Company (APS) is modernizing its grid infrastructure to address growing energy demands, the adoption of clean technologies, and climate change impacts. [A key component of the project] is implementing dynamic line rating (DLR) to provide real-time data on grid capacity.

The use of DLR will allow APS to accommodate 10%–15% additional load on congested DLR-equipped transmission lines. DLR increases overall reliability, grid efficiency and resilience, renewable energy integration, demand and capacity response capabilities, and enhanced asset management.

Using data gathered from DLR and smart grid deployments, APS will develop a dynamic data platform leveraging market-ready software to automate and inform business decisions around critical planning components.

Central Maine Power: Creating a Modern, Dynamic Grid to Increase Distributed Energy Resources in Rural Maine

Central Maine Power will implement a targeted dynamic line rating (DLR) solution to increase capacity of transmission lines by monitoring real-time conditions through sensors, allowing for greater integration of renewable energy without costly infrastructure upgrades.

Montana Dakota Utilities Co. and Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative: Grid Modernization and Capacity Expansion in North Dakota

[The initiative] upgrades three substations. Some of the specific upgrades include installing software, sensors, and interfaces for online weather data, allowing for dynamic line rating (DLR) and quicker system response. By keeping the existing line energized during construction and using new poles, the project ensures minimal service disruption.

Georgia Power Company: Deploying Grid-Enhancing Technologies for Increased Capacity and Flexibility in Georgia

Georgia Power Company (GPC) will deploy grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) including dynamic line rating (DLR) technology and reconductoring. The project will help GPC meet critical capacity and flexibility for projected solar energy deployments and load growth in support of Georgia’s economic growth.

GPC will work with its technology partners, Southwire and LineVision, to deploy new conductors and DLR technology to maximize conductor capacity on existing lines and in existing rights of way.

GPC is committed to sharing data related to operational insights and best practices on GETs installation and training. GPC will share lessons learned with its peer utilities to encourage system-wide adoption of these advanced technologies.

Excerpts from the project announcement for Advanced Power Flow Control (APFC):

Avista Utilities and Idaho Power Company: Upgrading Interregional Transmission for Resilience and Smart Operations in the Northwest

The project uses innovative construction approaches and power electronics to increase the transmission systems' utilization rate by optimally distributing power flows across the Lolo-Oxbow line and three other lines that comprise a currently constrained Idaho-to-Northwest transmission path. These technological shifts will optimize four transmission lines while limiting extensive construction to a single line. [The project will] increase interregional transfer capacity by approximately 635 MW in total, with benefits extending to hundreds of thousands of customers across the region.

The project will deploy innovative SmartValve devices, advanced power flow controllers that can provide real-time system visibility and control required to optimize power flow and energy dispatch. The increased interregional capacity will benefit customers, enable the Nez Perce Tribe to seek generation interconnection capacity for renewable resources on their reservation, harden the grid, and showcase innovative technologies.

A full list of GRIP projects, including awards finalized to date, is available here.

Working for Advanced Transmission Technologies (WATT) Coalition | watt-transmission.org