Red Eléctrica deploys dynamic line rating tech for Balearic Islands

Red Eléctrica, the Redeia company responsible for the transmission and operation of the electrical system in Spain, has begun installing dynamic line rating (DLR) devices on different strategic lines of the Balearic Islands transmission network.

According to the Spanish company in a release, the new digitalisation technology solution will allow lines to be used optimally, improving supply in safe conditions and enabling greater integration of renewable generation.

The devices have been installed so far on:

• The 66kV overhead line between the Eivissa substation and the Bossa substation, where seven meteorological stations have been installed on the line supports alongside 19 sensors.
• The 66kV line between the Eivissa-SE Sant Antoni substation, with eight stations and 20 sensors.
• The mixed 66kV line (overhead-underground) between the Son Orlandis substation and the Llucmajor substation with four stations and 16 sensors.

DLR systems are made up of sensors and weather stations and it is one of the technologies recommended by the European Commission’s Grid Action Plan to make networks more efficient.

The tech captures different parameters of the lines and data on environmental conditions in real time and consists of advanced IoT communication systems and calculation algorithms with AI.

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All this information makes it possible to accurately estimate the transmission capacity of the lines at any time to optimise their use.

For example, Red Eléctrica states that data is obtained from dynamic line rating data that allows decisions on whether to adjust the flow of a line based on the high temperature in the environment, or whether to maximise its use if conditions are favourable to its increase.

Thanks to the tech, Red Eléctrica says they can increase the capacity of some of its overhead lines by up to 30% at certain times under optimal conditions.

This allows, without the need to develop new infrastructures, the company to transport a larger quantity of electricity to improve the supply in safe conditions; as well as a greater integration of renewable energies.

In this way, the installation of the tech maximises the use of the network without undertaking variation in the layout or modifications to the conductor supports, or to any other component of the line.

According to Red Eléctrica, installation of the DLR devices has been authorised for use by the Balearic Islands Government.

In July 2024, the company announced it had deployed more than 750 DLR devices across Spain.