Improving our analysis
Our new analysis techniques enable us to look at more detailed year-round thermal requirements.
The power transfer capability across the network throughout the year is constantly changing and we are always trying to maximize the capability of the transmission network. As the ESO, we securely and economically operate the transmission network.
The graph shows the number of scenarios throughout the year for a particular power transfer level across the boundary, how many scenarios had no overloads, so acceptable (blue), and how many scenarios had at least 1 asset overloading which is unacceptable (orange).
Defining the network capability is complex. The overlap in the graph shows that a particular level of power transfer across a boundary could be either “acceptable” or “unacceptable” which is dependent on the generation and demand scenario. Our new analysis techniques allow us to model this complexity and calculate the likelihood and impact of differing network conditions throughout the course of a year.
We can also assess solutions by applying year-round conditions to help identify an optimal solution which extends our traditional analysis and opens the opportunity for a wider range of network and non-network solutions.
We will be learning from these techniques and investigating how to integrate the analysis within the NOA and how it could evolve to capture both thermal and voltage issues.