In the stark, unforgiving landscape of Iceland, maintaining a reliable power grid is a monumental challenge. Landsnet, the guardian of Iceland’s power transmission system, faced this reality head-on during the brutal winter of 2019. A severe storm in December left 40 towers toppled, resulting in an estimated $40 million outage cost. Just days later, a main line to Iceland’s largest hydropower plant suffered a mast collapse, narrowly avoiding a complete blackout. These incidents were a stark reminder of the urgent need for real-time monitoring, a capability that could have prevented or mitigated these disasters.
The rugged, often inaccessible terrain and extreme weather conditions of Iceland make traditional monitoring methods impractical. Landsnet’s initial consideration of burying six kilometers of power cables to supply electricity for icing detection was quickly dismissed due to the complexity and cost. Instead, they turned to Laki Power’s innovative LKX-201 system, now branded as LKX-MULTI, which harvests power directly from high-voltage lines. This technology offered a cost-effective solution to power communications equipment, cameras, line sensors, and weather stations in remote areas.
The pilot project, launched in 2018, aimed to validate the reliability of this power-harvesting technology and gain real-time situational awareness. The results were transformative. Landsnet could, for the first time, see real-time events on their lines, understand how conditions like galloping and ice loads were affecting them, and prioritize maintenance more effectively. The system’s ability to operate reliably in temperatures as low as –30°C and withstand extreme weather events, including a Boom Cyclone with wind gusts up to 145 miles per hour, demonstrated its robustness.
The success of the pilot project has led to an expansion of Laki Power’s deployments across Landsnet’s grid network. This collaboration is now focusing on dynamic line rating (DLR), a technology that could alleviate grid bottlenecks and bolster Iceland’s efforts to enter broader energy markets. DLR allows for real-time adjustments to the power flow based on current weather conditions, optimizing the grid’s capacity and reliability.
This development is a game-changer for the energy sector. It challenges the traditional approach to grid management, which often relies on static ratings and reactive maintenance. By embracing real-time monitoring and dynamic line rating, Landsnet is not only enhancing the resilience of Iceland’s power grid but also paving the way for a more adaptive and efficient energy infrastructure. This shift could inspire similar advancements in other regions grappling with harsh environmental conditions and aging infrastructure.
The implications of this news extend beyond Iceland. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and the need for more resilient infrastructure, the lessons learned from Landsnet’s experience with Laki Power’s technology are invaluable. The energy sector is at a crossroads, and innovations like these could shape the future of grid management, making it more responsive, reliable, and efficient. This is not just about preventing outages; it’s about building a smarter, more adaptable energy future.
