Flexible Transmission: A Comprehensive Review of Concepts, Technologies, and Market

TL;DR

This paper reviews flexible transmission technologies and market strategies that enable grid reconfiguration to support renewable energy integration, reduce costs, and facilitate a net-zero carbon emission electricity system.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of flexible transmission concepts, technologies, environmental impacts, and market models, highlighting their role in enabling a sustainable energy transition.

Findings

Flexible transmission enhances grid capacity without extensive expansion.

Technologies enable better integration of renewable energy sources.

Market models are crucial for incentivizing flexible transmission deployment.

Abstract

As global concerns regarding climate change are increasing worldwide, the transition towards clean energy sources has accelerated. Accounting for a large share of energy consumption, the electricity sector is experiencing a significant shift towards renewable energy sources. To accommodate this rapid shift, the transmission system requires major upgrades. Although enhancing grid capacity through transmission system expansion is always a solution, this solution is very costly and requires a protracted permitting process. The concept of flexible transmission encompasses a broad range of technologies and market tools that enable effective reconfiguration and manipulation of the power grid for leveraged dispatch of renewable energy resources. The proliferation of such technologies allows for enhanced transfer capability over the current transmission network, thus reducing the need for grid expansion projects. This paper comprehensively reviews flexible transmission technologies and their role in achieving a net-zero carbon emission grid vision. Flexible transmission definitions from different viewpoints are discussed, and mathematical measures to quantify grid flexibility are reviewed. An extensive range of technologies enhancing flexibility across the grid is introduced and explored in detail. The environmental impacts of flexible transmission, including renewable energy utilization and carbon emission reduction, are presented. Finally, market models required for creating proper incentives for the deployment of flexible transmission and regulatory barriers and challenges are discussed.