The Use of the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) Model in Dynamic Line Rating

Long-range power transmission line ratings are typically set based on seasonal extreme values of environmental variables. Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) based on weather forecasts of temperature, insolation, and wind speed and direction could help utilities to take advantage of the additional capacity present in power transmission lines without exceeding safety margins.

This presentation provides an update on the ongoing collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to apply DLR to power grids. Specifically, this update looks at the potential gains in ampacity that could be realized by using DLR based on short-term forecasts from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model. First, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is applied to HRRR data and the output is compared to the original HRRR data. Then, the HRRR data is used to create DLRs and the percent increase in line rating above the seasonal value is calculated for a proxy transmission line.