Smart, reliable transmission grids central to Asia’s energy transition and renewable integration

Investments in new technologies, such as advanced system control devices and next-generation transmission tower technologies, will help the region better integrate its clean energy resources and achieve its goal of building a low-carbon energy future.

By Narsingh Chaudhary, Black & Veatch

Fuller integration of generation, transmission and distribution technologies to balance electric grids, enhance energy security and reach decarbonisation goals is urgently required in Asia as the region races to expand its variable renewable energy generation to spur the energy transition.

As the raging energy crisis continues to tighten global supplies of natural gas, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed that a massive increase in clean energy investment could strengthen the region’s energy security.

Successful integration of variable renewable energy generation into existing power grids will dictate the speed of Asia’s energy transition.

That reality is confirmed by senior industry executives in the Black & Veatch 2022 Asia Electric Report, in which they identified integrating renewable energy into grid systems as the biggest challenge facing Asia’s electric industry.

Findings from the survey, which was conducted before the current energy crisis, showed regional industry leaders identifying underinvestment in transmission as one of the top three threats to reliable grid operations and performance (Figure 1).

Expanding and investing in higher quality transmission and distribution systems will be required to improve the efficiency, resiliency and reliability of supply and balance the variability of renewable sources. Reliable grids that can support the growth of decentralized power will help to optimize generation and enhance grid stability.

Key transmission expansion strategies will include deploying interconnection lines, interconnection substations, and switching facilities in areas with high potential for renewable generation to allow seamless connection to the grid.

When appropriately deployed, these facilities will help to manage some of the challenges with renewable generation related to lower inertia and lack of dynamic reactive power capability, while also facilitating integration with the collector substations that accompany each large-scale renewable development.

Expanding transmission networks, though, is difficult. Our 2022 survey respondents identified land acquisition and right-of-way (ROW) access as the biggest challenge to improving transmission (Figure 3). While a typical solar farm may take six to nine months to develop, high-voltage transmission lines often take years to deploy and can be severely delayed by land issues.

Technologies such as composite core conductors or advanced tower designs can help mitigate and address potential land issues.

An example of an advanced tower design technology includes Breakthrough Overhead Line Design® (BOLD), which can maximize power transfer on existing ROW by replacing old transmission lines with smaller-footprint, higher-capacity BOLD lines. BOLD technology is especially ideal for long distance and intercountry connections where high-voltage AC interconnections are viable.

Noteworthy also from the findings is that poor understanding of transmission’s integral and rising role in balancing the electric system comes in second ahead of policy, permitting and financing concerns. This points to a clear need to increase awareness among government and other public stakeholders around the role of transmission in improving the effectiveness of renewable integration and achieving a successful energy transition.

Regional electric industry leaders revealed that over the next five years, their top investment focus would be in advanced system control devices that improve grid stability and operations such as Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS).

FACTS enable better control of power flow from congested parts of the grid to less-congested portions. FACTS devices such as static compensators (STATCOMs) are also critical to furnish the dynamic reactive power needs with integration of large blocks of renewable injections. This is especially true with the onshore interconnect facilities associated with offshore wind projects.

Load control devices that better balance generation, and revamping existing substations, were other high priority investment areas identified by Asian electricity leaders (Figure 4).

As Asia repowers its power industry, better planned and designed transmission systems are key to its decarbonisation journey. Addressing voltage and frequency variability and grid code requirements effectively across the grid will reduce system losses, conserve energy and manage peak demand.

Operational complexities of grids are shifting from large power plants near the point of power consumption to more distributed and intermittent renewable plants and DERs. These dynamics present an opportunity for Asia’s electricity industry to re-evaluate transmission and distribution systems and conduct more advanced and interconnected planning and design across these systems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Narsingh Chaudhary is the executive vice president & managing director of Asia-Pacific for Black & Veatch.