Advanced Technologies for Future Transmission Grids, 2013
Power Systems Series

The re-engineering of power transmission systems is crucial to meeting the objectives of such regulators as the European Union. In addition to its market, organisational and regulatory aspects, this re-engineering will also involve technical issues dealing with the progressive integration of innovative transmission technologies in the daily operation of transmission system operators. In this context, Advanced Technologies for Future Transmission Grids provides an overview of the most promising technologies, likely to be of help to planners of transmission grids in responding to the challenges of the future: security of supply; integration of renewable generation; and creation of integrated energy markets (using the European case as an example). These issues have increased importance because of administrative complication and the fragmentation of public opinion expressed on the build up of new infrastructure. For each technology discussed, the focus is on the technical-economic perspective rather than on purely technological points of view. A transmission-system-operator-targeted Technology Roadmap is presented for the integration of promising innovative power transmission technologies within power systems of the mid-long term. Although the primary focus of this text is in the sphere of the European energy market, the lessons learned can be generalized to the energy markets of other regions.

A Mid-term Roadmap for Advanced Technologies Integration.- Innovative Cables.- Real-time Thermal Rating Systems.- Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems.- High-voltage Direct-current Transmission.- Coordination Methods for Power Flow Controlling Devices.- Storage for Transmission Systems.

Gianluigi Migliavacca is Head of the Transmission Planning Group of RSE, an Italian research company devoted to a broad spectrum of studies in the electricity field. He was Coordinator of the REALISEGRID project (European FP7 project with 20 partners over 3 years,  2008-2011), that treated the subjects of the book in depth and included the participation of four European tansmission system operators.

Offers the reader a plan for the creation of large-scale, integrated power distribution networks Demonstrates the relationship between different elements of modern power networks to face the need for cheaper and more efficient distribution in the future Assesses the benefits and drawbacks of application for a spectrum of technologies