20.01.2020
The energy transition requires the transport of increased amounts of electricity and thus more efficient grid usage. TransnetBW, the transmission system operator (TSO) from the southwest of Germany, intends to take greater account of the fact that overhead lines have different maximum loads depending on the weather conditions. On a cool, windy day, for instance, considerably more electricity can be transported than on a hot, windless day. To make optimum use of this effect, the TSCNET shareholder is currently implementing a system that provides the necessary detailed information about the specific line capacity for improved network management.
The project, which the TSO is carrying out together with Energy & Meteo Systems GmbH, a provider of power predictions and virtual power plants, is called “Witterungsabhängiger Freileitungsbetrieb 3.0” (weather-dependent overhead line operation 3.0 – WAFB 3.0). Together, significant locations for the real-time monitoring of overhead lines in the TransnetBW control area were defined and weather stations and sensors are now being installed at 250 pylons and 48 substations to detect the weather-dependent transmission capacity of the respective lines. This will give TransnetBW much more accurate data on the utilisation of the grid to better avoid bottlenecks.
Alexander Hofmann, WAFB 3.0 project manager at TransnetBW, explains the approach: “Up to now, we have only considered the temperature at regional level for our grid operation. With WAFB 3.0, we record not only the temperature but also the wind on a small scale, which opens up much more options for our daily grid operation. Initially, the system helps us to check the forecast values used and to adjust them if necessary. From 2023 on, it will determine for each line individually and in real time which transmission capacities will be available when required.”

TransnetBW collects and utilises data on the weather-dependent transmission capacity of overhead lines (picture: analogicus)
Linkup
> See TransnetBW press release, in German (html)