Geospatial Visualisation Techniques for Transmission System Needs Identification: A Case Study with High Shares of Distributed Energy Resources

This paper presents the principles of a mapping and network visualisation tool in development at the transmission system operator (TSO) of Ireland. Employing a set of Python packages, its intention is to aid planning engineers to explore, understand and communicate power system analysis results by providing more meaningful network diagrams. In order to illustrate the guiding design philosophy, the business process of scenario-based network investment needs identification is used. This process involves building alternative, multi-decadal pathways for the electricity system, which generates a significant volume of data and hence sense-making burden. Given that data-visualisation choices can obfuscate or mislead, how such data is represented can have a bearing on whether actionable insights are garnered. While planning knowledge guides the visual communication, the principles presented should prove useful to the synthesis of any power system subject matter and visualisation; graphic design could be effectively employed when communicating key messages to decision-makers, as ultimately the most important aspects of any analysis must be ​shown. A significant topic in its own right, the application of visualisation techniques in the field of power systems is low compared to other scientific fields. The paper thus proceeds with a treatment of the extant forms of visualisation currently employed by the power systems community. Rationale and notes on the selection of geographic maps and information dashboards as means for visualising power system data – including the multi-dimensional data of distributed energy resources – are then provided.