Power line dynamic rating: forecasting potential period of low wind speed is crucial

Conference (2012, September)

The replacement and building of new electrical power lines (50 000 km in Europe) can’t cope with the growth of RES development in EU for the ten upcoming years. New solutions have to be found to manage ... [more ▼]

The replacement and building of new electrical power lines (50 000 km in Europe) can’t cope with the growth of RES development in EU for the ten upcoming years. New solutions have to be found to manage such power transmission needs. Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) systems are part of the global solution. They allow to increase the power line capacity by an average 20% over the static rating (which is defined as the maximum current-carrying capacity as designed). The ampacity or thermal rating, is calculated thanks to (i) sensors installed directly on the power line conductors, like Ampacimon, (ii) weather data, and (iii) standard thermal models (IEEE, CIGRE). However, in order to be fully effective and to allow an efficient use of assets, ampacity calculation in real-time is not enough; it has to be forecasted as well. Beyond 6h-forecast, weather forecasts are necessary to compute the line ampacity up to two days ahead, as needed by network operation. As wind convection has a major impact on conductor cooling, even low wind speeds (2m/s up to 5m/s) allow a huge ampacity increase (the actual rating can be doubled). Therefore, low wind speed forecast up to 2-days ahead finds a major application in dynamic rating of overhead transmission and distribution lines. [less ▲]

Using Dynamic Line Rating to minimize curtailment of Wind power connected to rural power networks

in Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Large-Scale Integration of Wind Power into Power Systems (2011, October)

Elia, the Belgian TSO, is aiming to minimize curtailment of wind power plants connected to its 70kV rural network to the absolute minimum by using Dynamic Line Rating in combination with advanced flow ... [more ▼]

Elia, the Belgian TSO, is aiming to minimize curtailment of wind power plants connected to its 70kV rural network to the absolute minimum by using Dynamic Line Rating in combination with advanced flow simulation. This combination allows Elia to use its network assets to their real time maximum, without increasing risk and decreasing the security of supply. In situations like the one described below, where it’s possible to control the flow in near real-time via curtailment it becomes possible to use all of the extra capacity available via Dynamic Line Rating. On average more then 30% extra capacity is available but this figure can easily increase to 100% extra capacity as soon as there is more then 4 m/s wind perpendicular to the line [less ▲]