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The University of Illinois System (UIS) will lead the charge on a $31.2 million initiative to enhance the capacity of a 54-mile segment transmission line across North Dakota. The replacement project will install modern conductors and build dedicated stations to provide steady, reliable power.
UIS will collaborate with two electric utility companies to complete the project, upgrading the system with smart grid technologies. The primary focus of the transmission line initiative – which runs between Hettinger and Elgin – will be to replace the aged 69 kilovolt (kV) conductors with 115 kV advanced carbon-core ACCC conductors.
The upgrades will increase the line’s capacity by more than ten times. Once installed, the system will also be better prepared for future integrations, primarily for renewable energy sources and large loads.
In addition to upgrading the line, UIS will build three substations to support the higher voltage and integrate smart grid functionality. The project calls for installing upgraded software, sensors and interfaces for online weather data.
To ensure power doesn’t fluctuate throughout construction, the project will install new poles while keeping the existing lines energized during the process. The completed system will improve the region’s power reliability, resilience and cybersecurity. UIS also expects lower line losses, saving money while reducing carbon emissions.
Photo by MD Molla