Nord Pool Spot has received the following message from Statnett SF:
Background
Middle Norway has been a separate elspot area since 20 November 2006. The area is connected to NO3 on the lines 300 kV Tunnsjødal-Verdal and 300 kV Tunnsjødal-Namsos, connected to SE on the line 300 kV Nea-Järpstrømmen and to NO1 on the line 300 kV Øvre-Vinstra-Vågåmo, the 132 kV busbar at Åskåra and the 132 kV busbar at Litjfossen.
The elspot capacity has been in the range between 1150-1400 MW since the area was separated. The capacity is based on physical congestions.
The physical capacity will vary more than the elspot capacity. It is influenced by the allocation of production in NO2 and the production volume and -allocation in NO1, NO3 and Sweden. There are three main congestions that are expected to reduce the elspot capacity during the winter. See below figure.
1. High transmission SE-NO2
Low production in NO1 and NO3 could cause low transmission to NO2 from these areas. This will cause high transmission from SE to NO2, and the line Järpströmmen-Nea could reach its thermal limit.
The physical import capacity to NO2 could in such cases be limited to 1100 MW.
2. High transmission SE-NO2 and NO3-NO2
During high transmission to NO2 from NO3 and SE, the congestion can appear as a sum of these two transmissions. The capacity will probably be in the range 1000-1200 MW, depending on the actual power flow. In addition to this comes the transmission between NO1 and NO2, probably in the range 100-300 MW, depending on the production in NO1 and the allocation of the production in NO2.
The physical import capacity to NO2 when this congestion appears will probably be in the range 1100-1500 MW.
3. High transmission SE-NO2 and NO1-NO2
During high transmission to NO2 from NO1 and SE, the congestion can appear as a sum of these two transmissions. The capacity will probably be in the range 700-900 MW. In addition to this comes the transmission between NO3 and NO2.
The physical import capacity to NO2 when this congestion appears will probably be in the range 1100-1500 MW.
Summary
The expected congestions lead to an estimated import capacity in the range 1100-1500 MW, depending on the allocation of the production.
The elspot capacity is based on the expected physical congestions, and will be modified if the production and power flow changes.
Statnett works aiming to increase the import capacity to NO2. How much it could be increased depends on which congestions that will appear. The congestion limited by the thermal limit on Järpströmmen-Nea will not be solved this season.
Lysaker, 12 December 2006
For further information, please contact Statnett SF:
Tom Tellefsen, department manager, National control centre, phone: +47 22 52 74 43
Arne Kjell Nystad, senior engineer, National control centre, phone: +47 22 52 70 44