This modular solution can be installed in less than a year. This ensures the utility addresses the near-term reliability violation and allows them to quickly procure additional power flow control in the future.
SmartValve deployments provide considerable savings to customers by deferring high-cost reconductors.
If the utility decides to pursue the reconductor project in the future, the SmartValve devices are a “no regrets” investment that can be easily redeployed elsewhere on the grid, including onto lines of a different voltage class.
A reliability assessment identified that without sufficient local generation, thermal overloads will occur and increase from 2019 through 2027 in several different study scenarios.
The exact magnitude and timing of the overload is highly uncertain and it is quite possible the full extent of the overload condition may never occur.
Worst-case planning would lead the utility to pursue a $125 M reconductoring project.
SOLUTION
The utility developed a solution involving two multi-staged SmartValve™ deployments that resolve the anticipated thermal overloads.
This solution allows the utility to solve the known near-term need and can be scaled up (by adding additional devices) if the need grows in the future.
