Aluminum-Calcium Composite Conductors: The Future of America's Power Grid

To lower the cost of transmission line construction and increase the viability of renewable energy projects, the current research investigates the cost benefits of replacing Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) conductors with Aluminum-Calcium Composite (Al-Ca) conductors. The research modeled the conductivity of both conductors at frequencies of 0 Hz, 50 Hz, and 60 Hz. In all cases, regardless of conductor diameter, the research found that Al-Ca conductor displayed superior conductivity versus ACSR. With greater conductivity, circuits made of Al-Ca would experience less power loss from resistive heating. In addition, the research found that the superior yield strength of Al-Ca allowed for longer span lengths; consequently, a transmission circuit built using Al-Ca would require fewer support towers than the same circuit built using ACSR. As support towers can comprise as much as half of construction costs, using Al-Ca can lead to significant savings.