Officials with FirstEnergy Transmission said its subsidiary Keystone Appalachian Transmission Company (KATCo) will work to evaluate advanced technologies that could strengthen grid reliability in Pennsylvania.
The company said KATCo is joining utilities, regulators and technology leaders to participate in a federally-funded project that could support reliability and growth in western Pennsylvania. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program, KATCo has been selected to participate in a nearly $20.8 million grid modernization effort led by non-profit energy research and development organization, EPRI. The Advanced Transmission Technologies for Reliable and Efficient Energy Supply project will evaluate the technologies.
“Customers count on us to provide reliable electric service at a reasonable cost, and that’s what makes this project so important,” said John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania. “By evaluating technologies that help us get more from the transmission infrastructure already serving our communities, we’re exploring ways to strengthen reliability and meet rising energy demands for many years.”
Officials said the current transmission system moves electricity across the region to homes, businesses and communities. But like traffic congestion, some transmission lines can become heavily loaded while nearby lines are available. The pilot project will test technologies that give grid operators greater visibility into system conditions and more flexibility to manage power flows across the transmission network. Officials said the goal is to better understand how infrastructure can meet future energy needs before additional upgrades or new lines are required.
KATCo plans to install advanced equipment on an existing transmission line between Butler and Karns City in western PA to evaluate Dynamic Line Ratings that uses sensors and real-time data to get a more accurate picture of transmission line performance. Advanced Power Flow controllers, that act as traffic lights for electricity, will also be part of the pilot project. Officials believe these technologies could help reduce congestion on the grid while improving how electricity is delivered across the region.
“Strong partnerships are essential to building the grid of the future,” Mark Mroczynski, president of Transmission for FirstEnergy, said. “We’re grateful for the federal funding and collaboration that make projects like this possible. By working alongside EPRI, the Department of Energy and other industry partners, we’re able to evaluate innovative technologies that could strengthen reliability, make better use of existing infrastructure and help meet our customers’ future energy needs.”
The Butler County area was selected for the pilot because certain operating conditions in northern Pennsylvania can create higher power flows on transmission lines locally. KATCo will be able to evaluate how the technologies perform under real-world conditions and whether they could be applied elsewhere on the transmission system.