Electricity Network Planner

What is it?

Electricity Network Planner is a simulation tool that enables users to plan out the long term optimal capital and operations spend required by an electricity network to maintain its required technical operation in response to changing supply and demand patterns. The tool uses full network flow analysis to ensure that the technical integrity of the network is maintained, but integrates this with a strategic long term planning simulation that ensures that the optimal long term spend plans are developed.

Users can experiment with alternative investment strategies, defined as a combination of a set of capital and operational spend levels and a set of spend rules that are triggered when certain events occur. Through both manual and automated optimisation, the ideal levels and combinations of spend can be identified.

Features planned to be in the tool include:

• Full network analysis incorporating cables, transformers, load tap-changing transformers, phase-shifting transformers, compensators and high-voltage direct-current-based voltage source converters
• Capital spend on the installation and replacement of assets
• Operational spend on systems operations and maintenance
• Replacement logic based on time and network condition
• Workforce levels and skills
• Cost implications of network decisions
• Regulatory treatment of spend and network conditions
• Automated optimisation to minimise overall user-defined time-based Totex spend

The tool is under development and it is anticipated that it will be released in the coming months.

What can it be used for?

The tool can be used to identify an optimal capital and operational investment approach and to set out a plan for its implementation.

What benefits does it bring?

The tool helps determine an optimal technically viable long term capital and operational investment, reducing unnecessary spend, ensuring implementation feasibility and providing justification to regulators for investment decisions.

Who uses it?

Network planners for managing the detail of the investment plan.

Network management for setting the strategic direction for the investment and reviewing the investment plans from the tool.