Voltage Uprating of the

Distribution Network for Net Zero

Anthony Walsh BE, MIE, MBA, ACCA, QPT, F.IEI
Manager, Special Projects,
Asset Management ESBN
This paper has nothing to do with Insulators !

….yet it is the most critical to the Insulator market

2 for the next 20 years … www.esbnetworks.ie
…because a hundred years of insulator production
is being replaced in next 20 years!

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Impact of increased electrification of Household load on Network

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Expected Energy consumption growth of 228% in Ireland to meet Net Zero

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Growth in Installed Generation associated with increased Energy Consumption is 380%

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Growth in Renewable Generation, especially Offshore Wind

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Simplified Line Diagram of Transmission and Distribution Networks

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 What drove 20kV Conversion program in early 2000’s?

If load growth is low, utilities typically avoid

investment and eke out the existing capacity.

However, some maintenance is major and

requires asset replacement, but this also gets
deferred, resulting in an aging, low cost
network, which still works as long as it is not
challenged.

Introduce Load Growth, storms and

requirements for higher continuity and safety
(excessive line drops) and major
refurbishment is required, which is very
expensive.

Consequently, if major refurbishment is Answer is that for less than 10% more, the network could be
required with massive asset replacement, the rebuilt as 20kV or refurbished at 10kV for future conversion
question is whether the existing network to 20kV – the major difference being that actual 20kV
should be rebuilt exactly as before, as this
Conversion requires substantial work in HV/MV Substations.
would mean no extra capacity?
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 Why 20kV? - Higher voltages carry significantly higher power but at little extra cost.

 Volt Drop which is usually a limiting criteria in rural networks is halved when voltage is doubled
Load = 1MVA so I10 = 1MVA /(√3*10kV) = 58A ; I20 = 1MVA /(√3*20kV) = 29A ; V20/V10 = (29A x R)/(58AxR) =1/2

 Line Losses are reduced by 75%

Loss Ratio = (I102 R / I202 R) = (I102 /I202) = (V10 /R)2 / (V20 /R)2 = 10kV2/20kV2 = ¼

 Short Circuit Power is Quadrupled

Psc20/Psc10 = (V202/Z ) / (V102 /Z) = 20kV2 / 10kV2 = 4

 Capacity for new load is doubled

1 MVA Load at 10kV is √3*10kV* 58A – same current at 20kV is √ 3*20kV* 58A = 2MVA

 ESB operates an isolated Neutral system at 10kV, so insulators rated for 17.5kV. Earthing the neutral for 20kVmeans that
existing insulators do not need replacement except in coastal areas ( 8-30km from coastline).

 XLPE 10kV Cables could be operated at 20kV, but not paper cables, hence conversion in Urban areas slower

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Practical Benefits from conversion from 10kV to 20kV:

 Doubles the distribution system capacity

 Allows major new loads to be accommodated on existing networks (at 20kV rather than 38kV)

 Much better standby capability between networks due to less volt drop at higher power

 Less Volt Drop at MV means more headroom at LV for voltage drop

 Losses savings are very significant

 Lower costs per kVA served as costs of 20kV construction very similar to 10kV, but much higher
capacity

 Existing 38kV Stations have longer reach so fewer new 38kV Stations needed

 Load will accumulate at fewer 38kV Stations and facilitate their conversion to 110kV

 20kV Equipment is standard and better than 38kV generally, as 38kV is now a non-standard voltage
and at the bottom of range for sub-transmission equipment

 Plan to gradually replace 38kV/MV with 110kV/MV over time (25 years)
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 ESB’s Networks – DSO, DAO & TAO in Southern Ireland

ESB Trunk Fibre Network High Voltage stations Medium Voltage

(~2,000km Fibre) (~700) electrical network

Connected MAN

Non Connected MAN

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Approximate Network Component Volumes and MVA Capacity

 Network of 174,000km is 90% Overhead - large for a

5GW system
 Two thirds of MV Network, and 95% of LV is single
phase
 MV is 91,000km and 50% converted to operate at 20kV
 38kV is 7,000km long, with 430 38kV Stations
 Trafo Capacity feeding into MV is 7GW, Trafo capacity
MV/LV is 14GW
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Conversion of 10kV Line to 20kV

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Conversion of 10kV Line to 20kV

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Conversion of 10kV Line to 20kV using Interface Transformer

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Interface Transformer (IFT) : 3 – 5MVA, 10/20kV Step Up

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 38kV Station Conversion Options

38kV Station with multiple 10kV and 20kV outlets 38kV Station with one 20kV feeder.

One half bar at 10kV, one at 20kV, with IFT for Bar remains at 10kV but Step-Up IFT provides
coupling. 20kV supply to feeder.

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Contractors were a third of the total workforce, from 20 countries incl .Australia,
South Africa and Turkey, as well as Eastern Europe

In early 2000, ESB was only utility doing large

scale work.

Today, with EU 2050 Targets all EU utilities are

synchronised to all have same timelines – so
expect pressure on Material and Labour.

Material Supply Chain issues will be critical – a

shortage of Material will mean 2,000
Contractors making claims!

Poor Quality Material will result in incipient faults

being installed on the networks at an industrial
scale.

Multiple Material Suppliers, Buffer stocks of pre-

tested materials and mixture of pre-authorised
work for Contractors will be needed.

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Volumes of work very high – Labour and Materials critical

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Map of MV Status in 2022 – 20kV is Red, 10kV Blue – 50% converted

Existing 10kV Insulators had been rated

for 17kV as Ireland operated an isolated
neutral system.

This meant that when earthing the

neutral for 20kV, the Phase – Phase
voltage was 20kV and generally
tolerable for existing insulators.

However, between 8km and 30km from

coastline, salt-spray coupled with 20kV
required changeover to 20kV insulators.

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Where do we go from here?

New 110/MV stations feed directly into MV system.

In Urban areas where the 2 x 20MVA 110/MV stations

can be successfully offloaded.

In Rural areas a 38kv feed for outlying stations is still

required, so pure 110/MV difficult.

Existing 38kV circuits are 100SCA (c.22MVA) or

150AAAC (c.30MVA) on single poles, or 300SCA
(c.55MVA) on portals. Older lines still exist.

38kV Stations are usually 2 x 5MVA or 2 x 10MVA, with 3

- 4 38kV Stations on 38kV circuit between 110/38kV
Stations.

Load is increasing rapidly!

Siemens Tower before retirement – good service since 1927!

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 Using Three Winding 110/38/MV Transformers for 38kV Conversion?

110/38/MV 38kV converted NO

110kV 38kV 110kV
(93/63/20 MVA) to 110kV
38kV

Stn A Stn B
MV Traditional 110/38kV Stn.
MV
38/20kV 38/10kV

Consider uprating from 38kV to 110kV? – standardise voltages further by eliminating 38kV over time.
However, in lightly loaded areas 38kV will persist for many years.

Possibly use 110/38/MV transformers instead of 110/MV, so that whilst dense loads can be fed locally
at MV, the remaining 38kV System can be reinforced and provide value for many years, easing
workload and providing greater cost effectiveness.

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Existing ESB 38kV Monopole for 150AAAC with Braced Portal Poleset
(instead of Pylon) for Angle < 25°

Monopole shown is 150AAAC

38kV Line.

Braced Poleset shown is

used instead of a Steel Pylon
to accommodate angles.

Existing ESB 38kV Network is

often single pole and
frequently diverted around
farms without need for
Pylons.

Portal 38kV lines are less

flexible and need pylons once
angle exceeds 5 degrees. As
pylons are very expensive
Line Diversions would be
costly.
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Portal 38kV Line
Portal 38kV lines are less
flexible and need pylons once
angle exceeds 5 degrees. As
pylons are very expensive
Line Diversions would be
costly.

Also, customers when

customers hear the word
‘Pylons’ they think of this:

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Low Profile 132kV Single Pole Line in UK, with inset of existing ESB 38kV headgear

The UK 132kV Network does

not look appreciably different to
existing 38kV and may be
acceptable along same routes,
especially if Steel Pylons can
be avoided

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 Conclusions
 Very high levels of growth in the next decade will require very significant increases in Long Term Grid capacity

 Grid capacity is limited by circuit capacity which is used to feed downstream Substations

 Duplicating the existing Grid will not work as:

- it takes too long
- costs too much
- will be objected to by public

 Load will be too large to be managed – peaks will simply shift to become peaks at other times

 Generation will seek to ‘sink’ power into load when wind is blowing – so Generators will look for Network to be sized to
match generation, whereas Networks usually look to minimise load to match Network capacity and minimise Investment.

 However, Voltage Uprating is a fast, proven methodology, that uses existing, publicly accepted, circuit routes and stations,
and which can double or treble power available at least cost and effort, by also making use of reinforced existing assets.

 Major risks will be shortages of skilled Labour and Materials.

For Insulator Market, all the utility problems are opportunities!

- as every Circuit and Transformer converted will require new Insulators and Surge Arresters
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 Time’s Up !
- Any Questions?

[email protected]
28 www.esbnetworks.ie