Unconventional High Surge Impedance Loading (HSIL) Lines and Transmission Expansion Planning

Transmission expansion planning (TEP) is crucial for maintaining the reliable and efficient operation of the power systems, particularly in the face of increasing electricity demand and the integration of renewable energy sources. This paper aims to investigate the application of unconventional high surge impedance loading (HSIL) lines in TEP and presents a comparative analysis of their outcomes against conventional line-based TEP approaches. Starting with a 17-bus 500 kV test system, which can operate well under normal operating condition as well as all single contingency conditions, the objective is to connect a new load located in a new bus, bus #18, to the existing test system via two approaches: using conventional lines and incorporating unconventional HSIL lines. By comparing the number of lines required for the conventional and unconventional approaches, maintaining identical conductor weight per circuit, the effectiveness of unconventional HSIL lines in TEP is evaluated where using only two unconventional HSIL lines is sufficient to connect 1250 MW load demand at bus 18 while three transmission lines are required when using the conventional line. Finally, a thorough economic analysis has been conducted on both TEP scenarios, revealing that implementing unconventional HSIL lines leads to remarkable cost savings and thus can be considered a promising option for TEP studies.