Grid-enhancing technologies for clean energy systems

Renewable energy source integration into energy systems can contribute to transmission congestion, which requires time-consuming and capital-intensive upgrades to address. Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) can increase the capacity of grids with minimal investment, preventing congestion and curtailment of renewable energy. In this Review, we discuss the principles and uses of GETs, which use software and/or hardware to interpret real-time conditions to better use the existing capacity of grid assets. GETs include dynamic line ratings, dynamic transformer ratings, power flow controls, topology optimization, advanced conductor technologies, energy storage systems, and demand response. These GETs can enhance system performance individually, but the deployment of multiple GETs together would greatly increase their effect on the grid capacity and stability by removing multiple capacity bottlenecks in parallel. Infrastructure for real-time data acquisition, transmission and analysis is key to successfully deploying GETs but requires further development and commercialization for broader deployment. Grid-enhancing technologies increase the capacity and stability of power transmission networks without requiring major upgrades and investment. This Review describes the use of grid-enhancing technologies to maximize power transmission and enable renewable energy integration into existing grids.