CHARACTERISTICS

Computer software provides the necessary analytical tools required to establish technical and economic feasibility of improved transmission facilities for reduction of GHG. There are a large number of software tools available from industry-based research organizations such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in the United States, the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI) in Japan, and the Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano (CESI) in Italy. With the shift toward a restructured electric utility industry these organizations are now making their software products available on a semi-commercial basis. In addition to traditional load flow, short circuit, transient stability and electromagnetic transient programs, transmission line design work stations and individual transmission line design programs are also available.

SIZE:
Available for design of transmission lines from 110 kV to 765 kV

FEATURES:
Economic conductor selection, shielding angle lightning protection, tower and foundation design, structural upgrading, right of way mapping, tower spotting, and cable rating

COST:
Cost of individual software packages begins at $25,000; other software is available by membership. (Membership also includes access to future upgrades and benefits from access to new research efforts and information).

CURRENT USAGE:
Software such as the ElectroMagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) has been in use since the 1960s and is supported by the Bonneville Power Administration. In the U.S., Europe and Japan electric utilities, consultants, contractors, and equipment suppliers use up-to-date software to prepare transmission line designs.

POTENTIAL USAGE:
With the improved access available from the Internet it is possible to download software to utility company work stations anywhere in the world.

ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING ACTION

• The cost of software in addition to the subsequent need for computer hardware, software training and maintenance may be difficult for management to justify.
• Annual membership fees and software maintenance charges are expensive for utilities in developing countries.
• Software license, copyright protection and membership agreement language create bureaucratic barriers.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

EMISSION EFFECT:
    

CONDITIONS FOR EMISSIONS MITIGATION:

• Models may be able to quantify expected emissions mitigation.

EMISSION ESTIMATE:
N/A

COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
N/A

SECONDARY EFFECTS:
N/A

RESOURCES

• Most industry-based research groups host websites with detailed descriptions of their products. These include:
  • Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, http://criepi.denken.or.jp/
  • Centro Elettrotechnico Sperimentale Italiano, http://www.cesi.it/
  • Electric Power Research Institute, http://www.epri.com

CONTACTS

Electric Power Research Institute
Mark Lauby
Palo Alto, CA
Tel: (415) 855-2282
Fax: (415) 855-2065
mlauby@epri.com