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R&D Projects 2008

  • EMCAS (Electricity Market Complex Adaptive System) Model – A project launched in 2007, with the involvement of two outside bodies: ANL – Argonne National Laboratory and ADICA Consulting, from the United States. Its aim is to simulate and carry out economic assessment of the various components of the electricity-generating system in a market environment: MIBEL (Iberian Electricity Market). It is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
  • VALORAGUA Model – A project running from 2008 to 2009, aimed at improving the VALORAGUA Model so as to enable more detailed simulation of the MIBEL system. It involves increasing the dimensions of the VALORAGUA components (electricity nodes and transmission lines) and implementing new methods for processing the renewable component. It also involves the development of a data-loading module to make the VALORAGUA Model easier to use in conjunction with the EMCAS Model.
  • Study into Modernizing Mainland Portugal’s Wind-Energy Potential – A project undertaken in partnership with Oporto University’s National Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management (INEGI), which examines solutions to make energy-policy aims compatible with sustainable development of the system. In addition to modernizing mainland Portugal’s wind-energy potential, the aim of the project is to improve the Integrated Wind-Energy Management (GIPE) Model, which is a tool for creating diagrams for the siting of wind-power facilities.
  • Reserves Project – A joint REN, Institute of Systems Engineering and Computers (INESC-Porto) and Spanish Electricity Grid (REE) Project. It involves assessing appropriate levels of operational reserves in the Iberian electricity grids over the medium and long term that are needed to ensure security of supply, given the high levels of intermittent generation (i.e. wind power) being incorporated into those grids. The project will last until September 2009.
  • Technical-economic indicators associated with new electricity-generating technologies – Via an agreement with Fichtner (a consultancy company specializing in innovative solutions and technologies for electricity generation), our aim is to produce up-to-date technical and economic indicators for electricity-generating technologies, from both the state-of-the-art and future developments viewpoints. The indicators will be taken into account in forward planning studies of changing electricity-supply conditions in the National Electricity Grid (SEN), and when drawing up medium- and long-term security of supply monitoring reports. The project is also aimed at drawing up long-term fuel-price forecasting scenarios.
  • Forecasting studies into natural-gas security of supply for 2009-2020 - Under current law, and with the concession for the National Natural Gas Transport Network (RNTGN) having been granted to REN, initial forecasting studies have been drawn up in order to produce a report on development of the network, security of natural-gas supply and the requirements for maintaining appropriate levels over the medium and long term. To exploit any synergy arising from the integrated monitoring of security of supply to the National Electricity Grid (SEN) and the National Natural-Gas System (SNGN), initial joint analyses were carried out on gas- and electricity-supply conditions for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winter periods.
  • Joint forecasting of coverage of demand in the MIBEL – A joint project completed in September 2008, which involved identifying production capacity development needs in the MIBEL and the location thereof, by modelling the Iberian system into seven generation-consumption areas.
  • Electricity/gas demand forecasting – A project launched in 2007 with the Faculty of Science and Technology at Universidade Nova de Lisboa to establish scenarios for developments in medium- and long-term electricity and natural-gas demand. The following activities are key elements of the project:
    • development and implementation of new methods for forecasting demand, by examining the current Portuguese energy-sector situation;
    • use of the LEAP model to build a useable energy services demand tree structure;
    • reformulation of methods for forecasting monthly electricity demand;
    • creation of an electricity consumption and forecasting models (CEMPRE) tool for the analysis and distribution of electricity and natural-gas consumption in mainland Portugal and to estimate short-term forecasting scenarios.
  • INTEGRA Project – A project undertaken as part of a cooperation agreement entered into with EFACEC and the University of Oporto’s Engineering Faculty, the aim of which is to develop a prototype command, control and protection system for substations, based on the new IEC 61850 standard communication protocol. The prototype has been installed at the Fanhões Substation.
  • ROGOWSKI Project – A project launched in 2008 to study the use of non-conventional intensity transformers (Rogowski coils) for measuring current in situations in which conventional techniques are difficult to use.
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Transmission Grid Development and Investment Plan (PDIRT) – The main aims of this project are to design the strategic environmental assessment process that accompanies planning of the National Transmission Grid (RNT), and to establish the content of the environmental report and environmental declaration for the PDIRT of the RNT up to 2019. The project also includes participation in consultations associated with this process.
  • Development, testing of methods and calculations to determine the power-reception capacity of National Transmission Grid nodes - A project intended to develop and test a more operational method for determining the power-reception capacity of National Transmission Grid (RNT) electricity nodes and produce an initial determination of such capacity for future development of the RNT.
  • Revision of the Insulation Coordination Guide – A project intended to update the current guide, based on relevant international and Portuguese documents, and to include the new high-voltage equipment technologies used in the National Transmission Grid (RNT), and at the same time setting forth criteria for coordinating their insulation.
  • Impact of Special Status Generation on RNT Voltage Wave Quality – Introduction of a range of measures of various sizes, both for panels to connect wind farms to the RNT and within wind parks themselves. The aim is to assess the impact of wind-generated energy on the voltage-wave quality (flicker, harmonic distortion and voltage fluctuation) of wind farms using different types of technology.
  • Optimization of Circuit-Breaker Rating for the High-Speed Train Electricity Supply – A project to research and develop an algorithm enabling the circuit-breaker rating provided at points linking traction electricity-supply substations for the high-speed train to the RNT to be optimized. The aim is for the algorithm to minimize investment needed in the RNT to provide an electricity supply to the high-speed train, and it should optimize compatibility between the degree of imbalance in the three-phase voltage system set forth in the Service Quality Regulations and the imbalance actually produced.
  • Noise-Assessment Methods – Development of methods for analysing substation noise -The project involves not only validating the predictive noise model and the monitoring model, but also assessing the noise impact of RNT infrastructure, in order to validate technical choices and provide information to the authorities and general public. The intention is to optimize procedures for calculating long-term noise levels generated by RNT overhead power lines.
  • REEI – More environmentally friendly thick cladding for immersed structures – A project studying anti-corrosive protection methods and the durability of metal structures.
  • Study of electromagnetic fields associated with RNT infrastructure – A project undertaken with the help of Lisbon University’s Faculty of Pharmacy, dealing with electromagnetic fields in general, and the National Environmental and Health Action Plan (PNASS). It aims to assess the impact of electromagnetic fields produced by RNT infrastructure in order to validate the technical choices being considered, and to provide information to the authorities and the general public. A further purpose is to develop an instrument to help in the planning of very-high-voltage overhead power lines.
  • Tender-assessment model – MACBETH Model – A project whose purpose is to review multiple-criteria methods for assessing bids submitted in response to calls for tenders.
  • Wind on the Grid – A project to increase the capacity of wind-generated energy introduced into the grid by controlling that energy. Development and demonstration of a wind cluster management system (WCMS). This is a real-time dispatch method for wind-power generation (P and Q) enabling greater safety in introducing and operating wind-power generation. The demonstration in Portugal is being applied to the Pinhal Interior + Gardunha + Penamacor 150 kV cluster. The aim is also to demonstrate the controllability of wind-power generation by transmission-grid operators, in order to accommodate increased levels of wind-generated power while ensuring the safety of the electricity grid.
  • Wind Forecasting/ANEMOS.Plus – This project’s purpose is to implement probability models for wind forecasting. The aim is also to forecast wind-power generation by means of methods based on wind forecasting using physical atmospheric models, incorporating the real-time output of wind farms.
  • Load Forecasting – In addition to identifying and improving methods for forecasting consumption on the National Electricity Grid (SEN), the aim is to determine how temperature contributes to improving consumption forecasting. SEN consumption forecasting methods produced by the University of the Algarve are to be implemented.
  • European tariff for transfers between electricity grids – A project aimed at developing new methods for identifying the types of grid transfers, in order to apply a tariff for cross-border transfers and loop flows.
  • Operational risk on the RNT – The aim of this project is to develop methods for calculating the risk of contingencies occurring in the RNT, including the probability of losing grid, production and consumption elements.
  • Lightning – A project whose aim is to develop methods for detailing the performance of RNT overhead power lines when subjected to lightning strikes.
  • Market Operation System – Phase 1 – A project intended to define the process and implement the system providing information that underpins operation of the system-services market.