Transmission Tomorrow
Transmission Tomorrow is a document that looks forward at how we will develop and operate the National Grid over the next 20-30 years. Meeting the growing electricity needs of New Zealand will require a reliable and secure electricity network going into the future.
Transmission Tomorrow [3.8MB]
The Enduring Grid is a supporting document for Transmission Tomorrow, which outlines the scenario work reinforcing the need for New Zealand’s National Grid.
The Enduring Grid [1.4MB]
Our strategies for delivering Transmission Tomorrow
We have developed three strategies to help us deliver the grid of tomorrow.
The first two – lifting grid performance and lifting system performance – are technology-focused, to deliver more from the grid cost-effectively and limit expansion of its footprint. Reliability and resilience is the counterbalance to ensure the grid is robust and reliable.
Lifting Grid Performance
We will lift the performance of New Zealand’s grid and transmission assets by:
- completing our life cycle-based asset fleet renewal and refurbishment programmes
- extending our condition and risk-based approach to asset management
- operating key assets to ratings that reflect the actual conditions at the time
- maximising the capability of transmission routes using new approaches.
Lifting System Performance
We will improve the efficiency of the New Zealand electricity system and the utilisation of the grid by:
- improving the interaction between generation and transmission
- increasing our ability to use consumer response
- developing the operational capability to dispatch a highly utilised electricity system.
Improving Reliability and Resilience
We will improve the resilience and reliability of the grid by:
- maintaining key strategic spares and resource to ensure we can restore security after a major event
- designing and configuring substations to reduce the risk of long-duration failures
- ensuring the grid remains reliable and resilient against failures of key substations
- deploying modern grid monitoring technologies to prevent instability on a more highly utilised grid.
Our new platforms
Our ability to implement our strategies and respond effectively to future needs will be governed by the capabilities and resources we have at the time – our platforms. Our existing platforms support planning, building, maintaining and operating the grid. We are establishing four new technology and capability platforms to underpin and enable the delivery of the strategies.
Network platform
To deliver a secure digital data network linking our assets, control centres, offices and the wider electricity system.
Asset information platform
To deliver a step change in the way that we manage the grid.
People platform
To ensure we have access to the skilled and experienced people required to operate and maintain the grid and to operate the electricity system.
Corridor platform
To secure appropriate long-term access to transmission routes.