Transmission and distribution

The fast deployment of large amounts of renewable energy relies on the profound transformation of electric power transmission. Smart grids are playing a key role in integrating variable sources such as wind and solar power into the system, alongside heat and transport electrification and active demand response.

While the future energy ecosystem features added complexity, upgrades create opportunities for improved transmission planning and system resilience. From expanding transmission capacity to integrating smart technologies that enhance grid resilience, we are a trusted advisor in clean, affordable and resilient systems, supporting the energy transition at both utility and urban scale.

How we can help

Learn more about our work across transmission and distribution infrastructure:

Electrical grid integration and system design

For more than 30 years Arup has been active in the design of electrical infrastructure across the world, supporting projects from feasibility assessment through to development, design, construction, commissioning, sale and acquisition.

Arup’s whole-system approach to transmission and distribution planning relies on innovative technical and commercial solutions that provide incremental capacity at lower cost. With the aim to enable high renewable energy penetration, we use power system studies for scenario and sensitivity testing and to gain maximum opportunity and advantage from system innovation.

Santa Monica Microgrid

The City of Santa Monica, often recognized for its climate friendly policies, embarked on a microgrid project to incorporate renewable energy generation, storage, and electric vehicle charging.

Arup is the lead consultant to the City of Santa Monica in the development of the microgrid project, which will provide clean, reliable power to the City Yards municipal facility and potentially incorporate adjacent sites, including commercial development, transit use, and museums. Aligning efforts with the City Yards redevelopment, Arup conducted an 18-month study and produced a multi-user microgrid feasibility analysis, examining socioeconomic, financial, and technical factors, as well as the knowledge transfer plan for the City.

Power system analysis and energy market modelling

Arup has performed power system analysis and modelling in a variety of power systems worldwide.

Arup’s Energy Resilience Framework can diagnose – for any energy system – where challenges and opportunities for improvement lie.

We carry out new connection studies, including generation injection analysis, to determine the optimal sizing and siting of new generation or demand capacity to minimise network upgrades at transmission and distribution level.

Arup conducts transmission and distribution system impact studies, including transient stability analysis, dynamic model development, and power factor and reactive compensation studies – depending on project requirements – using complex power system simulation and optimisation tools such as DigSILENT, PSS®E, PowerGEM TARA, PSCAD and ASPEN Oneliner.

Thanks to its detailed understanding of the energy sector, Arup is able to use the results of the technical analysis to derive insights, assess potential future impacts on the system, and identify opportunities for improvement.

Offshore energy transmission and interconnectors

Interconnectors, which are of crucial importance for the energy system of the future, represent a large and complex undertaking for electrical grid and infrastructure developers.

Arup and Fichtner formed a partnership to oversee the NeuConnect submarine interconnector

Arup has been involved with some of the world’s largest and longest HVAC and HVDC subsea interconnectors, providing comprehensive services across all project phases. This includes detailed design advice, programme and project management, procurement, construction management and due diligence.

Thanks to this level of experience, Arup is well-placed to solve the complex development challenges. In partnership with clients, we identify and proactively mitigate project risks using financial modelling and sensitivity and scenario analysis.

Our breadth of electrical and marine engineering experience means we can provide a suite of coordinated services for offshore electricity infrastructure. We have also acted as technical and financial advisor on competitive offshore transmission regimes, providing asset due diligence for investors.

Case study

ETEPCO Offshore Transmission Owner

Our team of advisory and engineering specialists assisted Equitix Limited and TEPCO Power Grid Incorporated (ETEPCO) to successfully acquire the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm transmission assets through the Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) regime.

Our multidisciplinary team was able to support ETEPCO across the structural and power systems engineering and planning, advisory, geotechnical and consenting elements of the Triton Knoll wind farm transmission asset project. The assets included one onshore and two offshore substations, as well as the export cables. As a result of our work, these assets were acquired with minimal risk.

Energy transmission and distribution innovation and resilience

With a strong innovation culture, Arup is leading the way in developing innovative solutions to help address grid challenges in the clean energy transition.

Our expertise helps electricity network operators protect their people, assets and operations

We use innovative approaches, such as digital twins, to find novel solutions for complex physical problems. Our goal is to provide energy clients with an improved understanding of their network and consumers’ behaviour, and insights into how to meet demand with increased flexibility.

The resilience of the electricity network is increasingly under threat from extreme events, either due to natural phenomena or human intervention. As heat and transport are electrified, customers will increasingly rely on the grid for a reliable service. Our energy team helps clients to understand their vulnerabilities and build resilience.

Our expertise helps electricity network operators protect their people, assets and operations in a rapidly changing world.

Featured publication

Hydrogen Production from Thermal Electricity Constraint Management

As we move toward a decarbonised energy system, we are increasingly connecting a greater number of renewable energy sources to the national grid. The majority of the UK’s renewable electricity is produced in the North despite the South consuming greater quantities of energy. However, at peak production times, the southward transmission of power can exceed the thermal capacity of the grid, leading the National Grid Electricity System Operator to pay to constrain renewable generation and supplement energy demand with predominantly fossil fuel generation.

Hydrogen production facilities could reduce regional thermal constraints by utilising electricity from renewables that would otherwise need to be constrained. The low carbon hydrogen generated can then be used as an alternative to fossil fuels in industry, heating or transport to help decarbonise the UK economy.

National Grid Electricity System Operator and National Gas Transmission, as part of their Network Innovation Allowance funding, commissioned Arup to explore the technical, commercial, and economic case for electrolytic hydrogen production facilities to help manage thermal constraints on the electricity transmission system.

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