In an interview with Geospatial World, Jørgen Festervoll, CEO of Heimdall Power speaks about the challenges in the power grid sector, the role of geospatial in the energy sector, their expansion plan for next 5 years, and how cutting-edge technologies help in curbing GHG emissions in power transmissions.
What are the challenges in the power grid sector? How is Heimdall power addressing the challenges?
Today’s power grid operators face two main challenges. First, massive load growth from data centers, AI, and electrification; second, a growing queue of renewable projects wanting to connect to the grid. Traditionally, the go-to answer for such challenges would be to build new power lines. However, building such lines can take upwards of a decade’s time to complete, the utilities currently don’t have – not to mention the hundreds of millions they typically cost. Meeting society’s demand for electricity is a problem that can’t be put off, and Heimdall Power is helping utilities with an effective, fast-to-deploy solution.
Our Neuron sensors, also known as “Magic Balls” enable utilities to unlock an additional 30-40% of transmission capacity by using dynamic line ratings (DLR), an approach that assesses the real-time conditions of power lines to pinpoint where more electricity can be carried safely through a line. This technology allows energy companies to bypass lengthy and costly infrastructural projects, replacing them with the quick installation process of our sensors onto their existing power lines.
What are the new innovations taking place in the technology part to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity?
Power service interruptions are becoming more frequent as grids age and extreme weather events become more frequent, causing them to shut down. Our neurons are helping address this challenge in a couple of different ways. The sensors can identify additional transmission capacity that can be used to alleviate lines that fall out, lowering the chances that the system gets overwhelmed and shuts down. Second, the sensors provide visibility into the health of the power grid, giving operators the information they need to avoid a greater outage due to unsafe conditions. Essentially, the neurons give power grid operators all the information they need to operate the grid reliably within safe limits.
Please tell us about Neurons and what kind of data it gather. How is this data helpful?
The Neurons gather real-time data on electrical parameters and power line temperature, sag, and clearance to ground, to name a few. With this data, utilities can accurately determine how much electricity is safe to put through a line at that given time. Without sensors, utilities are forced to use conservative seasonal line ratings, which means they have a calculated level of transmission capacity they deem safe for each season of the year based on historical data. These calculated limits are purposely conserve to ensure safe operations. However, the actual limits are often way higher, meaning there is a lot of untapped capacity on any given line most of the time. Our sensors are able to provide the data needed to unlock this additional capacity safely.
Tell us about the use of drone installations and its benefits.
Our industry already has a shortage of linemen; there aren’t enough to keep up with everything that needs to be done. This situation is only going to become more exacerbated as time goes on. If we want to scale grid-enhancing technologies to cover entire grids and nations, the industry can’t rely exclusively on linemen to install each sensor one-by-one – there are simply too many power lines and too few workers. Drones are the perfect solution for this challenge. By having our sensors installed via drone, we accelerate the process of accessing the additional transmission capacity that already exists in these power lines dramatically. This also allows utilities to pass the benefits along to consumers at a much quicker pace.
What is your vision for the next 3 years? What new projects are you working on?
We are here to put a dent in the world by changing the way power grids are operated worldwide and thus enabling the green energy transition on our way to net zero. During the next three years, we need to deploy thousands of sensors to make sure power grids around the world are adequately equipped to deal with the rising demand for electricity and to meet the requirements laid out by regulatory bodies.
For instance, in the United States, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 881, which requires the implementation of hourly ambient adjusted line ratings. These guidelines will come into effect in July of 2025, and we are working with utilities nationwide to help them become FERC-compliant. We are even helping companies prepare for potential future requirements by installing our Neurons, which provide much more accurate real-time ratings. We recently won the largest sensor-based dynamic line rating project in the world with Netz Niederösterreich and we are now working to deploy the first sensor.
Which regions are you aiming to expand in the next 5 years?
We have a very strong presence throughout Europe already, and are looking to continue integrating with more utilities around the continent in an effort to further optimize their grids. That being said, our primary focus in the next few years will be to build out our operations in the United States. We already have made considerable inroads there, including launching the biggest-ever grid optimization project in the country when we partnered with Minnesota’s Great River Energy, installing over 50 sensors throughout their grid. However, there are hundreds of thousands of miles of power lines in the country, and we are looking forward to getting involved in the optimization of more of them.
How is geospatial technology revolutionizing the energy sector?
Geospatial technology is beginning to play a role in all aspects of energy, helping with efficiencies in energy distribution, managing supply and demand, advancing stability, and much more. Heimdall Power’s sensors capture data partially based on geospatial elements, such as where a line is installed and how it is positioned. Information is critical in managing power grids, and I could see additional focus placed on geospatial technology specifically to generate that data.
With the help of cutting-edge technologies, will we be able to curb the greenhouse gas emissions in power transmissions?
Cutting-edge technologies such as Heimdall’s solution will be essential to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the years to come. Our solution is already helping society electrify loads and add more renewable power to the grid. In addition, by helping utilities unlock additional capacity, we allow them to make the best use of their existing infrastructure instead of turning to the construction of new power lines – projects that typically are associated with high emissions.
