Sensor tech and AI increase transmission capacity by 52% finds Litgrid

Lithuania’s electricity transmission system operator Litgrid has completed tests of artificial intelligence and sensor technologies, finding that their use has enabled a 52% increase in throughput capacity for the country’s transmission lines.

In their tests, the TSO installed special devices on power lines to measure weather conditions and an innovative model assessed the current and predicted the potential bandwidth of the lines.

Test results show that using this technology, transmission line throughput has increased by an average of 52% compared to the established design.

Specifically, states the TSO in a release, technology such as Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) is promising for creating more favourable conditions for renewable energy power plants to generate more electricity without restrictions.

“We installed the sensors to further evaluate the applicability and capabilities of variable bandwidth technology. We have been testing variable bandwidth technology since October 2022. Test data show that it has a lot of potential, as it allows for the transmission of more electricity without higher additional costs, which is especially relevant when integrating more renewable energy power plants into the transmission network,” said Liutauras Varanavičius, director of Litgrid’s Strategy Department.

Audrius Baranauskas, head of innovation at Litgrid, added: “The data collected and the innovative model allowed us to determine the actual deflection of the line, which is the most important factor determining the safe load of the line. The greatest potential of this technology was revealed in Winter, when even 80% was achieved in January.”

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Monitoring transmission capacity

Since last October, on the 110kV electricity transmission line Palanga–Vējas 1, Litgrid has implemented a variable bandwidth technological solution, which they developed together with the Slovenian and Austrian companies Operato and Micca Informationstechnologie GmbH, and Norwegian Heimdall Power.

Additionally, an innovative permeability assessment model was developed for the 330kV Kaunas–Šiauliai overhead line.

Special equipment mounted on overhead power lines supports measured weather conditions and line temperature, while artificial intelligence models monitored and predicted potential line throughput.

The final test results of this technology showed that the bandwidth technology allows 52% more electricity to be transmitted through the same overhead power lines.

After the successful trials, Litgrid plans to further deploy this technology on their electricity transmission lines.

In the coming years, states the TSO, it is planned to introduce variable line bandwidth technology to 10 percent of the Lithuanian transmission grid with further development of the technology to be investigated.

The permitted generation capacity of solar and wind power plants already operating in Lithuania, including the transmission and distribution networks, is currently 2.3GW and constitutes almost half of the country’s total electricity production capacity.

According to Litgrid’s assessment, in 2030 the consumption and export possibilities of the Lithuanian electricity market will allow the connection of at least 4.4GW of solar and 5GW of wind power generation capacities – a total of 9.4GW.

In the coming decades, the electricity demand is predicted to increase several times.