How digitalisation can solve grid challenges for TSOs

Christian Merz, Data Scientist at the AI Center of Excellence at Elia Group, explains how digitalisation can support transmission system operators (TSOs) in tackling grid challenges.

Grids are undergoing massive changes to keep pace with the energy transition

In an exclusive interview at Enlit Europe, Merz sheds light on how digitalisation is helping overcome some of the most pressing grid challenges for TSOs such as 50Hertz, which is part of Elia Group. He highlights the issue of congestion, especially in Germany, where it leads to higher redispatch costs.

"One of the things we are looking at is how can we lower these redispatch costs."

Merz explains that he is looking at topological actions to direct electricity differently in the grid and the technologies that can assist with that.

However, topological action is not easy, since it is non-linear and they deal with a huge action space.

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"So what we first need is a first fast load flow solver. So what we need to look at is how we can speed up the current load flow calculations to a massive amount. And this is especially where new technology comes into play."

However, digitalisation efforts extend beyond individual TSOs. Collaboration is key to accelerating progress.

"We are in contact with other TSOs, like, for example, TenneT and RTE and exchanging information, and also with other research institutions."

Looking towards the future, Merz identifies the need for a common, well-defined data format and robust data pipelines, which he believes to be essential for training and utilizing advanced algorithms.