Case Study: Statnett achieves rapid hourly energy forecasting and slashes simulation time with FICO Xpress Optimization

Statnett Ensures Future Power System Using FICO Optimization

Statnett, Norway’s transmission system operator responsible for keeping nearly 11,000 km of high‑voltage grid balanced and planning the next‑generation main grid, faced rapidly increasing complexity from more intermittent wind production and new interconnectors to Europe. To plan investments and forecast hourly prices, demand and line flows up to 30 years ahead (analyzing hundreds of thousands of simulated hours), Statnett needed far greater solver speed and capacity than its existing freeware tool could provide—weekly calculations had grown from five to 168 and full runs could take a month.

After rigorous, head‑to‑head testing of leading optimization solvers, Statnett selected FICO Xpress Optimization for its performance, value and broad capabilities. The new solver cuts simulation time from about one month to one day, enables accurate hourly market and system modeling far into the future, supports better investment analysis, and is expected to lower consumer and producer costs by reducing unnecessary grid construction.

Statnett

Ivar Husevåg Døskeland

Senior Business Analyst