| Transmission & distribution
atmosphere for 3200 years, whereas the new gas lingers for just 16 days. The difference in terms of environmental impact between the two options cannot be overemphasised.
What are the next steps for decarbonising the grid with SF6
-free switchgear? UK Power Networks is representative of utilities that are now introducing SF6 -free
switchgear rated at 24 and 36 kV onto their networks.
On one level, the choice of insulation inside this GIS could be seen as a technical decision for the original equipment manufacturer. However, it is a choice that influences lifetime costs and operating practices and is therefore also a key consideration for DNOs.
Ultimately, experience from the trial sites will inform operators’ long-term strategies as they form their business cases for future regulatory periods.
ABB welcomes the European Commission’s recent proposals to update European F-gas regulations, which aim to reduce fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions, including SF6
, by two-thirds by 2030 compared to 2014 levels. German grid operators opt for SIEAERO
The German grid operators Schleswig Holstein Netz and Bayernwerk Netz have commissioned Siemens Energy to inspect almost 4000 km of HV overhead lines, using its SIAERO service concept employing a helicopter equipped with a multi- sensor system attached to its underside The system collects all the necessary data during the flight, which is subsequently evaluated with the help of AI and other software tools.
The SIEAERO multi-sensor system employs 19 cameras and 3D laser scanning sensors, allowing it to capture all relevant inspection data in a single flight over the power line, resulting in up to 12 000 images per km of power line, plus detailed 3D data. The SIEAERO software can evaluate the images in just a few hours, whereas a human would need a few days, says Siemens Energy.
The artificial intelligence has been previously trained with over two million images of European and North American grids to automatically
detect faults, allowing potential risks, such as trees growing too close to the power line to be detected earlier.
During the flights, the surface temperature of the individual components is also measured, among other things.
Every km of power line flown generates 300 gigabytes of data. The SIEAERO system uses this data to create a digital twin, a highly accurate image of the network infrastructure being inspected, including poles, lines, terrain, and vegetation. With the digital twin, network operators can simulate extreme events like a tree falling on a line and causing it to fail and take the appropriate preventive measures.
In the future, the use of large drones rather than helicopters could significantly simplify and improve the inspection process, says Siemens Energy, which has already successfully performed several test flights employing a drone equipped with the SIEAERO system.
Above: Helicopter equipped with SIEAERO multi-sensor system
Currently, however, most countries still prohibit the use of unmanned aerial vehicles beyond the visual range. As soon as the legal situation permits in these countries, Siemens Energy will also offer SIEAERO as a drone service, the company says.
Seeking stability for Scotland
Following its Stability Pathfinder Phase 2 tender, which attracted 225 proposals from 21 separate companies, UK transmission system operator National Grid ESO has awarded ten contracts to four companies, totalling £323 million, for the provision of inertia (6.75 GVAs in total) and short circuit levels (11.55 GVA) in Scotland. The awards aim to address potential grid stability problems arising from the imminent closure of nuclear power stations in Scotland and northern England, and the rising number of onshore and offshore wind farms in Scotland. Previously, inertia has been provided by coal or gas power plants but NG ESO says it is now procuring inertia from carbon-free sources. Five of the successful bids involve synchronous condensers with flywheels, while the other five employ battery storage and “will comprise what is thought to be a world-first use of new grid
forming converters at multiple locations across a region to improve inertia and short circuit levels.” Stability Pathfinder Phase 1 concluded in January 2020, with the award of contracts for a total of 12.5 GVAs of inertia over a six-year
period, at a cost of £328 million.
The tender window for Stability Pathfinder Phase 3, which focuses on increasing inertia and short circuit level in England and Wales, closed on 6 June 2022.
The Stability Pathfinder Phase 2 winning tenders were: Company
Statkraft Statkraft
TINZ Programme 1 ProjectCo 3 Ltd Zenobe Energy Limited Zenobe Energy Limited Zenobe Energy Limited WP Grid Services 3 Ltd WP Grid Services 8 Ltd WP Grid Services 1 Ltd WP Grid Services 9 Ltd
Location Coylton Neilston Beatrice
Blackhillock
Kilmarnock South Eccles Gretna
Rothienorman Thurso South Neilston
Technology type
Grid forming battery storage Grid forming battery storage Synchronous condenser
Grid forming battery storage Grid forming battery storage Grid forming battery storage Synchronous condenser Synchronous condenser Synchronous condenser Synchronous condenser
www.modernpowersystems.com | June 2022 | 37
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