Red Eléctrica instals over 750 dynamic line rating devices on overheads

Red Eléctrica, the Redeia company responsible for the transmission and operation of the Spanish electricity system, has announced the deployment of more than 750 dynamic line rating (DLR) devices on overhead power lines.

One of the technologies recommended by the European Commission’s Grid Action Plan to make networks more efficient, the DLR tech aims to enable the integration of renewables and guarantee electricity supply at all times.

Thanks to these devices, Red Eléctrica aims to increase the capacity of some of the overhead lines by up to 30% in optimal conditions at certain times, which would allow for the transportation of greater amounts of electricity.

DLR systems are made up of sensors and weather stations that capture different parameters of environmental conditions in real time.

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According to the TSO, advanced IoT communication systems and calculation algorithms with AI enable the transport capacity of the lines to be estimated at all times, optimising their use.

Commenting in a release was Miguel de la Torre, director of development of the electric grid system for Red Eléctrica: “The incorporation of these devices into the transmission network will allow the use of the existing network to be expanded and allow the system operator to work with greater versatility and flexibility.”

Added director of maintenance and construction, Manuel López Cormenzana: “Optimising the construction needs of new transport lines by maximizing the levels of transport capacity of existing ones is a sign of the sustainable nature that our country’s electrical system is taking on in line with the ecological transition.”

Installation of the devices forms part of the actions under Red Eléctrica’s 2021-2026 Network Development Plan, which aims to modernise and digitalise transmission assets.

Specifically, the DLR devices, which are based on IoT, aim to use real-time monitoring to increase efficiency in the use of the transmission network while maximising renewable integration.