AES, LineVision launch assessment of Grid Enhancing Technologies

In a joint assessment, the AES Corporation and LineVision, Inc. last week announced that they will use Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR) to study how Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) could improve transmission capacity on the grid.

Over the course of the pilot, the companies will determine how LineVision could best integrate power from renewable energy sources. DLR, supplied by LineVision, will be used for an AES utility based on a system study to determine locations that are best for updating the system. The technology has previously been shown to greatly improve transmission capacity on existing lines at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional transmission upgrades. It is also capable of doubling integration of renewable energy capacity on the grid.

“There are several exciting technologies that can be used to enhance the capacity of our grid,” Kristina Lund, president of AES Utilities, said. “AES looks to lead the industry in deploying advanced technologies, like DLR, that allow us to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy to our customers as the demands for increasingly green energy and electrified communities grow.”

The study will be launched this month and the partners expect it to conclude by year’s end. AES claimed that the technology used here will help grid operators to gain real-time insights into the health and reliability of transmission lines, safety and lifespan, while minimizing costs to ratepayers and developers.

“As we urgently move toward a net-zero future, utilities can test and bring on new technology to avoid system reliability issues while integrating record levels of renewables,” Hudson Gilmer, CEO of LineVision, said. “GETs are the enabling tool needed to accelerate our path to a decarbonized grid. We are excited to work with AES on this important project.”