Integrating High-Performance Conductors in Long-Term Transmission Planning
In 2024, Energy Strategies, in partnership with GridWorks and GridLab, completed the Connected West study, an unprecedented long-term western US transmission plan based on high load growth and high energy system decarbonization. One of the scenarios tested in this study was a strategy based on maximizing the use of composite core or “High Performance Conductors.” The techniques developed during this process were novel and this paper details how long range planning efforts could effectively incorporate HPCs into their own long range transmission plans.
This work provides insights from real transmission system planners who have conducted a real-world, long-range multi-value transmission planning effort. For that reason, this paper provides unique insights and grounded recommendations about how different transmission organizations can start thinking about use of HPCs in their region.