Dartmouth Engineering and Eversource selected for US DOE Award to Expand Grid Capacity

(Image source: Adobe by ABCDstock)

As developed by Eversource and Professor Junbo Zhao's team at Dartmouth, the DREAM initiative combines leading-edge research with utility expertise to advance practical solutions for the electric grid. By deploying dynamic line rating technology across approximately 4,000 miles of Eversource's transmission network in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the initiative will provide operators with enhanced real-time visibility into system conditions and enable more efficient use of existing infrastructure. It will also leverage thermal field sensing to provide on-the-ground measurements of actual conditions, advanced weather forecasting, digital analytical models and operational integration that supports the decision-making process for remote system operators—ultimately providing more real-time data that reflects actual operating conditions in order to maximize use of the existing transmission system.

"Existing transmission lines can often carry more electricity than conventional ratings allow, but operators need reliable information about when that capacity is available and how to use it safely," said Zhao, the Todd M. Cook and Elizabeth Donohoe Cook Associate Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth. "DREAM brings together sensing, forecasting and digital twin analytics to turn that opportunity into practical tools for grid operations. Our partnership with Eversource offers an opportunity to move research into practice across an entire transmission network, helping deliver a more reliable and affordable electric grid for communities throughout New England."

"New England's geography, climate, and growing energy demand make reliable power delivery especially challenging," said Douglas Van Citters, Dean and Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth. "By pairing Dartmouth's advanced modeling with Eversource's operational knowledge, we can get more out of existing transmission lines and improve energy security for our region. This is a perfect example of how innovation moves from our labs to real-world impact." 

Inside Eversource's System Operations Center. (Image courtesy of Eversource)

"We greatly appreciate the Department of Energy's investment in innovative solutions that can strengthen the New England electric grid and deliver significant reliability and affordability benefits to our customers," said Bill Quinlan, President of Transmission at Eversource. "As demand for electricity continues to grow, the DREAM initiative will help us maximize the capability of our existing transmission system—which importantly will also help keep costs as low as possible for customers. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with DOE and Dartmouth Engineering to demonstrate how advanced, state-of-the-art grid technologies can help meet the region's evolving energy needs with an ever-present focus on affordability for our customers."

By maximizing the capability of its existing transmission system, Eversource anticipates that, under specific conditions, the project could unlock additional transfer capability that may mitigate or delay the need to construct certain new transmission facilities. Such an approach is estimated to cost significantly less than what would be required to build equivalent new transmission infrastructure while also reducing congestion costs on constrained transmission corridors and creating additional value for customers.

The partnership will continue as Eversource and Dartmouth Engineering will work with DOE through the award negotiation process to further develop and demonstrate how dynamic line rating technology can increase transmission capacity, strengthen reliability, and support evolving energy demands across the region with an emphasis on affordability for customers. Pending successful negotiations and execution of a final award agreement, the award could represent approximately $47.7 million in funding for the initiative, which would be expected to begin in 2027. The DREAM initiative was one of 31 projects selected across 26 states.