New report examines the benefits of advanced conductors to rebuild transmission pathways

Reconductoring and rebuilding existing transmission pathways using advanced conductors could lower costs and accelerate the decarbonization of the power grid, according to a new report by Grid Strategies.

The report, Advanced Conductors on Existing Transmission Corridors to Accelerate Low Cost Decarbonization, was prepared by Grid Strategies for the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), CTC Global Corporation, Lamifil Inc North America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Taihan Electric USA Ltd., and TS Conductor Corporation.

“To accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy, we must upgrade and expand our nation’s antiquated transmission grid,” Gregory Wetstone, president and CEO of ACORE, said. “Over the long term, the construction of new interregional transmission lines to form a U.S. Macro Grid will be critical to this effort. But in the near term, we must take advantage of opportunities like reconductoring to ensure we are maximizing the capacity of our existing grid infrastructure. This technology can be deployed relatively quickly, which is important in helping the U.S. stay on track to meet our climate targets. Federal and state officials, and transmission planners and owners, should take notice of the recommended actions outlined in this report to increase the utilization of high-efficiency advanced conductors.”

About 70 percent of transmission and distribution lines are well into the second half of their 50-year life expectancy. While new transmission construction is needed to interconnect large amounts of renewable energy and decarbonize the grid, these projects can take a decade or more to bring into service. Outfitting the existing transmission grid with advanced conductors can rapidly create more capacity, reduce emissions, save consumers money, and create a more resilient grid.

“The U.S. transmission network needs to meet 21st-century challenges with 21st-century solutions,” Jay Caspary, vice president of Grid Strategies and a co-author of the report, said. “We have the technology we need to simultaneously expand the capacity of the existing grid while repairing thousands of miles of aging transmission infrastructure. As this report demonstrates, the adoption of Advanced Conductors is a fast, cost-effective way to accelerate the decarbonization of the power sector. It is time to modernize our outdated transmission planning practices to fully leverage the benefits of this under-utilized technology.”

The report makes recommendations that the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could adopt, as well as recommendations for transmission planners and owners, public utility commissioners and legislators, and the U.S. Department of Energy.