British utility identifies a 7GW generation network plan that can be delivered three years earlier
A major electricity transmission utility faced the task of integrating approximately 7GW of new generation capacity within a constrained timeline.
83%
reduction in network scenario planning time.
3 year
reduction in delivery timeline.
£500m
potential saving on constraint costs.
Traditionally, labour and budget constraints mean early-stage transmission planning overlooks critical feasibility and permitting risks.
The utility’s standard transmission planning methods relied heavily on electrical system studies, like power flow and contingency analyses, with minimal assessment of environmental, permitting, and constructability factors.
This approach often led to late-stage discoveries of overlooked environmental, regulatory, and feasibility challenges.
The process
Previously, the utility used Optioneer for detailed routing between fixed endpoints. After recognising Optioneer’s AI-driven ability to rapidly assess environmental, permitting, and constructability factors, they saw value in applying these capabilities to early-stage planning alongside their traditional electrical performance analysis.
Building on this expanded use-case of Optioneer, within 8 weeks the utility rapidly evaluated 5 distinct strategic network scenarios with over 500km of assets each.
Each scenario included multiple high-voltage projects—spanning overhead lines, underground cables, and submarine cables—with a combined route length of over 500km. These scenarios aimed to tackle complex regional network constraints, regulatory pressures, and the significant growth in new generation and load.
This approach gave the utility early visibility into key project risks and opportunities, enabling faster decision-making and greater confidence in their strategic network planning.
Previously, the utility used Optioneer for detailed routing between fixed endpoints. After recognising Optioneer’s AI-driven ability to rapidly assess environmental, permitting, and constructability factors, they saw value in applying these capabilities to early-stage planning alongside their traditional electrical performance analysis.
Building on this expanded use-case of Optioneer, within 8 weeks the utility rapidly evaluated 5 distinct strategic network scenarios with over 500km of assets each.
Each scenario included multiple high-voltage projects—spanning overhead lines, underground cables, and submarine cables—with a combined route length of over 500km. These scenarios aimed to tackle complex regional network constraints, regulatory pressures, and the significant growth in new generation and load.
This approach gave the utility early visibility into key project risks and opportunities, enabling faster decision-making and greater confidence in their strategic network planning.
The results
The ability to identify these critical issues early, allowed the utility to pivot to an alternative scenario. Although marginally less optimal electrically, this scenario offered significantly better feasibility, reducing expected permitting and construction timelines by up to three years.
Without requiring additional labour, Optioneer’s comprehensive assessments brought previously unseen opportunities to the forefront, often obscured in traditional methods due to significant time pressures and manual limitations in scenario evaluations.
The ability to identify these critical issues early, allowed the utility to pivot to an alternative scenario. Although marginally less optimal electrically, this scenario offered significantly better feasibility, reducing expected permitting and construction timelines by up to three years.
Without requiring additional labour, Optioneer’s comprehensive assessments brought previously unseen opportunities to the forefront, often obscured in traditional methods due to significant time pressures and manual limitations in scenario evaluations.
Evaluated 5 network layouts, 500+ kilometres each.
Completed expected 12 months of work in 8 weeks.
Expected network congestion costs reduced by over £500million.
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