Planning network reinforcements with Dynamic Line Ratings for overhead transmission lines

Recent years have seen an increase in wind energy penetration on to the Northern Ireland (NI) transmission network to meet renewable energy targets. It is predicted that by 2020 40% [1] of NI energy will come from the wind resource, which is concentrated in the North and West of the province. However, most of the demand for electricity is in the east where the country is most densely populated. In the near future this will create a strain on the transmission network connecting the West to the East of the province.