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From Pilot to Proof: New Report Details 12 Months of America’s Largest DLR Deployment

via Business Wire

Great River Energy and Heimdall Power report major capacity gains and a projected $3.175 million in avoided congestion costs over five years

Great River Energy and Heimdall Power today released the 12-month results of the nation’s largest dynamic line rating (DLR) deployment in Grid Optimization Gets Real: One Year Inside America’s Largest DLR Deployment, a new report featuring real data, proven strategies, and field-tested best practices for scaling high-value DLR.

The project, which spans 10 transmission lines and 175 miles of monitored grid, highlights the real-world benefits of DLR; benefits that are especially critical in an era of rising demand, aging infrastructure, and increasingly extreme weather. In the first year, Great River Energy unlocked up to 63% more transmission capacity during peak demand.

“DLR has promised more capacity for decades, but we needed to know if it could actually deliver for our system, under real conditions,” said Michael Craig, Manager of Energy and Distribution Management Systems at Great River Energy. “One year later, we’ve gained real, operational value—not just theoretical gains—and a solid foundation for extending that value across more of our grid.”

The report outlines how Great River Energy scaled Heimdall Power’s end-to-end DLR solution—using 50 physical and 37 virtual line-based sensor units called Neurons™ and a cloud-based analytics platform—to deliver measurable value to its 26 member-owner cooperatives and 1.7 million customers. Highlights include:

  • Expert analysis of 12 months of field-validated data, including:
    • Estimated savings of $30,000 during one avoided congestion event in July 2024.
    • Project-wide savings estimated at $3.175 million.
  • A self-assessment tool to evaluate DLR readiness.
  • Replicable insights into building a business case for DLR.
  • A real-world comparison of DLR vs. ambient adjusted ratings (AAR).
  • A five-point checklist for avoiding “death by pilot.”
  • A practical introduction to line studies, including the unique factors that shaped Great River Energy’s sensor deployment strategy.
  • Clear guidance on accounting for limiting elements, defining realistic ROI, and aligning with regulatory expectations and security protocols.

The report also addresses a key barrier to DLR adoption: Oversimplified metrics that risk misrepresenting the technology’s value.

“We’ve all heard ‘40% average capacity gains,’ but DLR’s real impact is more nuanced,” said Tom Cleaver, Vice President, Heimdall Power. “It’s not just about averages: It’s about delivering capacity when and where it’s needed most.”

Download the full report now at heimdallpower.com.

About Great River Energy

Great River Energy, Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a not-for-profit wholesale electric power cooperative that provides electricity to member-owner distribution cooperatives, serving more than 1.7 million member-consumers. Great River Energy owns and operates more than 4,800 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. The organization is on track to meet Minnesota’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80% from 2005 levels more than 25 years before the 2050 target. Learn more at greatriverenergy.com.

About Heimdall Power

Founded in 2016, Heimdall Power is the world's most-deployed grid intelligence solution, trusted by 50+ utilities in 20 countries to help them manage capacity, mitigate outages, protect their infrastructure, and streamline compliance. Our solution combines a plug-and-play software platform with the Neuron™, a powerline-based sensor that features award-winning hardware design, bleeding-edge communication technology, and proprietary installation-by-drone capabilities. From dynamic line rating (DLR) and ambient line rating (AAR) to asset health, our solution is proven to help utilities optimize the power grid and fuel better lives. Learn more at heimdallpower.com.

“One year later, we’ve gained real, operational value—not just theoretical gains—and a solid foundation for extending that value across more of our grid.”

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