Using Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) for Grid Optimization

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More and more power industry experts are touting the benefits of using Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) to increase the capacity of the existing power grid without the need to build new transmission.  Given the huge costs and development times to build new transmission lines, the notion of optimizing the infrastructure that already exists sounds intriguing.  Thus, for today’s post, I thought I’d take a closer look into what exactly ATTs are and how they work.

The Nuts and Bolts of Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs)

Simply put, Advanced Transmission Technologies or ATTs are a suite of grid enhancing tools that can boost capacity on lines that already exist.  The are 4 primary types of ATTs:

• Dynamic line ratings – Utilize real-time weather data to expand transmission line capacity when conditions warrant.
• High-performance conductors – Constructed of carbon fiber or similar materials that effectively increase capacity.
• Topology optimization models – Involves the use of artificial intelligence tools to execute real-time grid analysis that routes electricity in the most efficient manner possible depending on existing conditions.
• Advanced power flow control systems – Monitors system statistics and congestion data to redirect energy flow as needed.

Recent results validate the business case on these technologies.  For example, a recent article in MIT Technology Review outlined how a dynamic line rating deployment increased capacity on the line by a whopping 50% – all at a cost of just $45k per mile.  Doing the rough math reveals that this cost was probably about 1% of the cost that would have been incurred by building a new transmission line.

Unfortunately, ATTs are not widely used in the U.S.  Part of this has to do with the fact that government policies do not reward the electricity market for deploying these types of technologies – instead the structure of the market favors expensive infrastructure.

To accelerate the deployment of Advanced Transmission Technologies, policymakers should: (1) introduce transmission line efficiency standards and enforce compliance and (2) provide financial incentives to utilities for adopting cost-saving solutions.  Until then, the number of U.S. utilities using ATTs will remain relatively small.