Comparing Grid-Enhancing Technologies and Traditional Grid Upgrades

𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗡𝗼 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗔 𝗚𝗘𝗧 Buffering batteries are rarely treated as grid enhancing technologies, but that exclusion is starting to look more like a category mistake than a technical distinction. Full article linked in comments. Traditional GETs such as advanced conductors, dynamic line rating, and power flow controllers increase the instantaneous capacity of transmission lines. Batteries do not. A 500 MW line remains a 500 MW line. But that framing misses the point. The real goal is to move more electricity through the grid we already built, and batteries placed at constrained renewable sites, pooling stations, substations, or corridor endpoints do exactly that by shifting electricity through time. The simple example is a solar plant producing 800 MW for four hours while connected to a 500 MW transmission line. That leaves 300 MW stranded for four hours, or 1.2 GWh of curtailed electricity every day. Add a 300 MW, 1.2 GWh battery and the surplus can be stored at noon and discharged later when the wire has headroom. The line never carries more than 500 MW at any moment, but over the day it delivers more energy. That matters because battery economics have changed dramatically. With lithium-ion pack prices reported around $70 per kWh in some markets in 2025, the pack cost for 1.2 GWh is roughly $84 million before balance of plant and installation. That is no longer obviously more expensive than transmission reinforcement, especially when new wires can take years to permit and build. We now have real world examples. Australia’s Victorian Big Battery helps operators run the Victoria to New South Wales interconnector closer to its limit, effectively unlocking about 250 MW of additional transfer capacity under peak conditions. The Waratah Super Battery extends the same logic, acting as a contingency buffer so lines can operate closer to rated capacity while still meeting N minus one reliability rules. Germany’s grid booster projects do the same near critical substations. The UK, Chile, Brazil, South Africa, India, and California are all demonstrating versions of the same principle. The limits matter too. Batteries work best when congestion is time bound, like midday solar peaks or overnight wind surges. They are much less useful when a corridor is constrained most of the day. In those cases, only more transmission solves the problem. So yes, buffering batteries do not enhance the wire itself. They enhance the throughput of the network. That makes them part of the same practical toolkit as DLR, advanced conductors, and power flow devices. The grid is not just steel and aluminum. It is timing, control, and increasingly storage. In many cases, changing when electricity moves is enough to move a lot more of it.

The electric transmission grid is the limiting factor for economic development in many communities across America. Energy communities looking to build generation and export power are discovering that the cost of grid upgrades stops that development. New manufacturing facilities face the same delays, costing jobs.  Poles and wires aren’t the only way to add transmission capacity. Grid Enhancing Technologies, or GETs, are sensors, controls and software that maximize the value of the existing grid. They usually find 20%-40% more capacity, which would return billions of dollars in benefits to consumers every year. Separate studies by leading engineering firms Quanta Technologies and the Brattle Group found that using GETs in generator interconnection could reduce wholesale energy costs nationwide by over $5 billion per year. GETs can also reduce grid congestion — when transmission infrastructure limits the delivery of lowest-cost power — which came to over $20 billion in 2022. GETs could have saved $2 billion-$8 billion in grid congestion every year for the past decade. GETs also mitigate the impacts of grid outages and find or create system flexibility that improves reliability.  These tools are more widely adopted outside the U.S. Countries that have modified the traditional cost-of-service business model to reflect changing grid needs are reaping the rewards. Domestically, low-cost operational technologies are not part of the utility business model — they are only compensated for building new infrastructure (known as “capital expenditures.”) #energytransition #gridenhancingtechnologies #electricgrid #smartgrids #gridcongestion #gridupgrades #infrastructure

Weekly Video: Transmission and Grid-Enhancing Technologies & Reconductoring (Note - after this recording, Ameren announced a DLR pilot with Heimdall Power.) In early March, PJM Began using Ambient Adjusted Ratings to better determine how much power can flow through lines based on actual weather. In addition, the DOE announced it will award billions for quick and effective upgrades to the transmission system. Assuming we can fix the broken interconnection issue, we will still need lots of transmission. Few new lines are being built: less than 1,000 miles of 345 kV+ transmission lines were completed in 2024 – far less expansion than is needed, especially with enormous data center demand. The biggest challenge is permitting for new rights-of-way, which can take well over a decade. Grid-enhancing technologies, or GETs, can offer some relief by doing more with existing transmission. In addition, there is the growing potential for reconductoring. The GETs technology with the greatest near-term potential is dynamic line rating, or DLR. As power lines move more power, they heat up. Lines are limited by static ratings, based on worst-case weather assumptions (e.g., 100 degrees F w/no wind). Flows cannot exceed those pre-set amounts, even though most days much more power could move through the line. DLRs - a combination of software and sensors - measure ambient temps and wind (wind wicks lots of heat away from the line), as well as sunshine on the wires. Sensors measure physical sag (more heat = more sag). Per a 2024 DLR case study, winter static ratings could be exceeded 100% of the time, w/average capacity increases of 81%. For summer, it's 94% of the time, w/avg increases of 27%. A less capital-intensive approach that uses weather data and doesn’t require physical sensors, but also fails to measure the impact of wind, is called Ambient Adjusted Rating or AAR. AARs automatically predict hourly transmission line capacity. FERC's 2021 Order 881 mandated AARs for ISOs/RTOs by July 2025, but PJM was first to go live, on March 4, using hourly ratings from real-time as far as 10 days out, and monthly seasonal ratings for longer-term studies 12 months out. Meanwhile, the DOE will fund approximately $1.9 bn to “accelerate urgently needed upgrades to the nation’s power grid.” The DOE calls out reconductoring – the stringing of new and more efficient lines along the same or upgraded towers. Since ROWs are the biggest factor limiting transmission expansion, it's worth fully exploit existing ROWs. Reconductoring can cost-effectively double transmission capacity w/in existing ROWs and save billions. We’ll still need to build many new transmission lines, but they'll likely take many years to get built. In the meantime, it’s essential to do as much as possible with the infrastructure we have. These two recent developments are a start. 

🔧 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝘀 As load forecasts shift rapidly—driven by data centers, electrification, and distributed energy—utilities face a growing challenge: how to meet demand when the traditional playbook is too slow. New transmission takes years. But the grid needs relief now. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱-𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗚𝗘𝗧𝘀) offer a way forward—solutions that help utilities do more with what they already have. From dynamic line ratings and topology optimization to modular power flow controls, GETs are reshaping grid planning. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: • 🚀 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 – Unlock 10–30% more throughput from existing lines in months, not years. • 🔄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Route power around constraints and respond in real time to fluctuating demand. • 💡 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗘𝘅 – De-risk and defer expensive upgrades by squeezing more value from legacy infrastructure. • 📈 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 – Enable faster renewable integration by easing congestion and bottlenecks.    𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 1. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿. GETs provide near-term tools that enhance grid agility without full rebuilds. 2. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. These technologies help maintain grid stability even as load grows unpredictably. 3. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Forward-thinking utilities are using GETs to demonstrate proactive planning and grid stewardship. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. It’s about reimagining how we operate the grid we already have—more dynamically, more intelligently, and more sustainably. ✅ Is your utility actively exploring GETs? ✅ How are you factoring flexible, tech-enabled solutions into your long-term planning? The time to rethink grid strategy is now—and GETs should be part of that conversation. #GridModernization  #EnergyTransition  #UtilityInnovation  #GridEnhancingTechnologies  #SmartGrid  #TransmissionPlanning #PowerGrid  #CleanEnergy  #ElectricUtilities  

Why Are We Waiting 10 Years When We Can Fix the Grid in 6 Months? Alliant Energy just cut grid congestion by 49% and saved $24 million. Time to deploy? Months, not years. The tech? Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs). Here’s the deal: New transmission lines = 12-17 years to build GETs = 6-18 months to deploy Same outcome. A fraction of the time and cost. We’re talking dynamic line ratings, topology optimization, power flow controllers. Tech that squeezes 30-40% more capacity out of existing lines. The kicker? While AI data centers are desperate for power and renewables sit in interconnection hell, 40% of our grid is over 40 years old. We don’t have a decade to wait. GETs aren’t replacing new transmission. But they’re the bridge that keeps the lights on while we build for the future. Five years from now, we’ll wonder why this wasn’t standard everywhere. The tech works. The math works. We just need to move. Seeing GETs in action near you? Drop your stories below. #EnergyTransition #GridModernization #CleanEnergy #PowerGrid #RenewableEnergy #UtilityInnovation #SmartGrid #EnergyInfrastructure #ClimateAction #TransmissionGrid #EnergyStorage #Sustainability #PowerSector #GridResilience #FutureOfEnergy #vPAC #DTECH26