Power Cable Cost Benefit Analysis: A Critical Review

Many developed countries are facing a fundamental shift in the way electricity is generated and in the way electricity is consumed. The current T&D network which was originally built for remote generation flowing to users at the ends, now has to cope with distributed generation across the network. The research on different parts of T&D system faces the challenge and opportunity to optimise and to enhance the existing electric network in isolated mid-scale integrated generation and consumption networks. As the efficiency improvement of power cables will have a remarkable effect on the reduction of electricity dissipation and carbon emissions, researchers never cease exploring novel cable systems, e.g. Gas Insulated Line (GIL), High Temperature Superconductor (HTS), High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables, Capacitive Transfer System (CTS) cables etc., but there is no systematic analysis of the practical comparison of various cable options in a mid-scale network. The purpose of this paper is to compare the cost and benefit among various types of power cables to provide a framework of reference for both researchers in this field and for generators, suppliers and consumers of electrical power who may be interested in the application of power cables using life cycle costing.