Spotlight

Detailed look at a specific topic or area of interest

• Advances in Direct Current Technology: Moving from HV to UHV

  February 10, 2015
  Although direct current (DC) technology has been in existence since the 1870s, it was made commercially available only in the 1950s.

• Transmission Developments in 2014: Snapshot of major events across the globe

  January 8, 2015
  Encouraging competition by announcing several regulatory initiatives and improving the various approval processes were the main focus of the regulators of North and Latin American countries to attract higher investments in the power transmission segment.

• Progress on FERC's Order 1000: Majority of utilities still await final compliance approval [free access]

  December 10, 2014
  Since the announcement of Order 1000 in July 2011, a total of 51 transmission system operators/developers have submitted their compliance filings with the United States' FERC.

• Making Africa Energy Sufficient: Renewable energy, grid connectivity to play lead

  November 9, 2014
  The past decade has witnessed African economies grow at over 4.6 per cent, higher than the world average of 2.7 per cent. In fact, 6 of the world's 10 fastest growing economies over the past decade are located in Africa, namely, Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique and Rwanda.

• Reactive Power Compensation: Key trends and development [free access]

  October 1, 2014
  Reactive power is a necessary evil�it does no work but is needed to move active power as it helps maintain the voltage levels necessary for active power to do useful work.

• HTLS Conductors: Offers effective solution for solving capacity problems

  September 9, 2014
  Economies across the world are continuously working towards achieving high levels of installed power generation capacity and expanding transmission networks to meet the ever increasing demand for power.

• Grid-Scale Energy Storage: Highlights of our fourth conference in Brussels

  August 1, 2014
  The grid-scale energy storage industry has witnessed several promising developments during the past few years, mainly on account of the increase in penetration of renewable energy sources and the drive towards continuous and reliable energy supply.

• Cybersecurity in US Grid: New initiatives issued for countering cyberthreats [free access]

  July 10, 2014
  Preparing the grid against cyber attacks and intrusions is one of the key challenges being faced by the US government and grid operators. Preparing the grid against cyber attacks and intrusions

• EU's Energy Market: Physical infrastructure needed to make common rules effective

  June 10, 2014
  The European Union (EU) has been working towards the creation of an Internal Energy Market (IEM) since over 20 years, with three legislative packages adopted during 1996-2009.

• Testing HV Equipment: Ensuring reliable operation of power systems

  May 1, 2014
  With capacity addition and technology transition, there is a greater focus on high voltage (HV) equipment testing and measurement (T&M)—an ancillary segment involving certification, calibration, and assessment of quality and reliability standards of critical network equipment.

• Undersea Power Cables: Offshore and cross-border links drive market expansion [free access]

  April 7, 2014
  The undersea high voltage cable market has grown considerably in recent years. As per Global Transmission Report estimates, the global high voltage undersea cable (USC) network increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 11 per cent between 2005 and 2013.

• Transmission Investment in ASEAN: Driven by economic growth and power access

  March 7, 2014
  As power sector investments loose momentum in Asia's economic giants like India and China, the focus is shifting to the Southeast Asian countries. Power utilities in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries have launched plans to add record capacity in the coming decade not only to service the expected increase in the regional power demand but also to compensate for years of underinvestment in the sector.

• Transmission Tower Foundations: Key trends in design and technology

  February 12, 2014
  Power transmission involves the passage of electricity across long distances and is, as such, susceptible to variable and random behaviour with regard to the load.

• Transmission Developments in 2013: Snapshot of major events across the globe

  January 13, 2014
  Asset renewal and integration of renewable energy were the key drivers of transmission projects during 2013. These are being done not only through augmentation of high voltage networks but also through measures such as a phased introduction of smart grid technologies, energy sector reforms, and cross border transmission links.

• Update on China's UHV Plans: Cost viability, lengthy approvals delay projects

  December 10, 2013
  China's economy has witnessed explosive growth in the past decade. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual average of 10.5 per cent over the past decade (2003-2012), making it the second largest economy in the world.

• European PCI: First step towards creation of a larger European energy market

  November 1, 2013
  The European Union (EU) has an energy vision of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 while ensuring the creation of a more competitive and secure energy system.

• Germany Network Expansion Plan: Timely and cost-effective implementation is key

  October 4, 2013
  Germany has been focusing on transmission network expansion, particularly in the last couple of years. This is largely due to the country's decision to completely phase out nuclear power by 2022 (in the wake of the Fukushima disaster) and increasingly adopt renewable energy. Germany plans to ensure that 80 per cent of its energy supply is met by renewable energy by 2050.

• US Grid Expansion: Must keep pace with wind energy development

  September 1, 2013
  Power transmission infrastructure in the US needs to be ramped up swiftly to be able to accommodate the massive upcoming renewable energy capacity, particularly wind energy.

• Grid-Scale Energy Storage: Highlights of our third conference in Brussels

  August 1, 2013
  Over the last few years, the grid-scale energy storage industry has witnessed several promising developments, establishing its role as a key enabler in the move towards a low-carbon world.

• Smart Transmission: Substation Automation Technology and Trends

  July 1, 2013
  Grid operations have become a challenging task in the context of rapid expansion of transmission networks and their increasing complexity. Resultantly, power systems are becoming increasingly dependent on complex control techniques to ensure efficiency, security and reliability.