For the first time, APG, in cooperation with the Norwegian company Heimdall Power, is installing a line sensor using a drone on an operating 380 kV line. In the future, this should help to make better use of lines depending on weather conditions. The cooler the line, the higher the possible transmission capacity. “The first for us is that, thanks to drone assembly, we no longer have to shut down the line if we want to make it fit for the future and thus further increase security of supply,” explains project manager Alex Winter. Previously, lines had to be shut down for assembly, and it often took several months to get to this point. “The reason for the often very long waiting times until a shutdown can be carried out is that the reserves that were once planned for in the national electricity system are now almost completely exhausted and we need every line in the system,” says Winter.
The project is a further development of the so-called thermal rating (TR), with which around 15 percent of all APG lines are equipped. TR is primarily used on lines that have had high costs for congestion management in the past. “With further development we want to further optimize our thermal rating system. In addition to network expansion, the digitalization of the supra-regional electricity infrastructure is an extremely important measure for secure electricity supply,” explains APG company spokesman Christoph Schuh.
Thermal rating helps save
Thanks to sensors in substations and weather data from GeoSphere Austria (formerly ZAMG), an algorithm is used to calculate the possible transmission capacity of the line. The more information that is reported from a line to the control center, the better the line can be utilized. “We want to further develop this model with the TR innovation project, for which we have now also installed the sensors on the 380 kV line,” says Winter.
“Thanks to Thermal Rating, APG can save around 100 million euros in costs every year. Research and innovation projects like these are part of our nine billion euro investment program up to 2034 to expand and convert our electricity infrastructure for a secure energy transition and a strong business and living location in Austria,” concludes Schuh.
About Austrian Power Grid (APG)
As an independent transmission network provider, Austrian Power Grid (APG) is responsible secure power supply Austria. With our powerful and digital electricity infrastructure, as well as the application of State-of-the-art-Technologien We integrate renewable energies, are a platform for the electricity market, create access to inexpensive electricity for Austria’s consumers and thus form the basis for a secure supply and sustainable business and living location. The APG network extends over a route length of around 3,500 km, which the company operates and maintains with a team of around 900 specialists and continuously meets the increasing requirements of the electrification of society, economy and industry. A large part of the 67 substations distributed throughout Austria are operated remotely via the control center in Vienna’s 10th district. In 2023, thanks to the committed employees, the security of supply was once again at 99.99 percent, making it one of the best in the world. Our investments amount to 445 million euros in 2024 (2023: 490 million, 2022: 370 million euros). Economic engine and an essential building block for achieving Austria’s climate and energy goals. APG will invest a total of around 9 billion euros in network expansion and conversion by 2034.