Saturday, March 29, 2025

Alberta's High Voltage Lines

Alberta's high-voltage transmission infrastructure is a critical component of its electricity grid, facilitating the efficient distribution of power across the province. Here's an overview of the key aspects:

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  • : This 485 km long, 500 kV, bipolar, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line connects the Newell HVDC static inverter plant near Brooks, Alberta, with the Heathfield static inverter plant near Gibbons, Alberta. The project, completed in December 2014 at a cost of C$1.8 billion, is owned by ATCO Electric and was built by Siemens. It's the first newly built, long-distance HVDC line in Canada since the Quebec – New England Transmission Project10.

  • : This 350 km, 500 kV HVDC line between Wabamun and Calgary became operational in December 2015. It was built by AltaLink at a cost of $1.7 billion. Together with EATL, these lines form a robust backbone for Alberta's electricity grid, enhancing reliability and capacity9.

  • : A new 130 km high-voltage transmission line is being developed to add 750 MW of electrical capacity to the grid. This project, supported by a $283.5 million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), aims to relieve power congestion, increase access to renewable energy, and save Alberta ratepayers approximately $135 million over 30 years1314.

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  • : Alberta's grid uses voltages different from surrounding regions. The primary transmission voltage is 240 kV, with 500 kV used for bulk power transmission between Edmonton and Calgary regions. HVDC lines operate at 500 kV11.

  • : Alberta's grid is interconnected with British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the United States through various voltage levels, including 500 kV, 230 kV, and 138 kV lines11.

  • : The transmission sector is dominated by AltaLink and ATCO Electric, with AltaLink serving most of the province and ATCO Electric operating in the northwest and northeast11.

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  • : HVDC transmission lines offer advantages such as reduced right-of-way requirements, lower land impact, and efficient power control. They are also less susceptible to heat loss, making them more energy-efficient912.

  • : The construction of high-voltage transmission lines, especially near residential areas, requires careful consideration of electric and magnetic field exposure limits. Studies have been conducted to determine safe distances for human exposure7.

  • : Atmospheric conditions like air density and humidity significantly affect the flashover strength of insulators. Detailed meteorological records are used to calculate correction factors for insulation coordination5.

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  • : The new transmission lines are designed to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar power, into the grid9.

  • : The addition of HVDC lines and the Central East Transfer-Out project aims to enhance grid reliability, reduce congestion, and support the province's growing energy needs1314.

Alberta's high-voltage transmission lines are a testament to the province's commitment to modernizing its electricity infrastructure, ensuring reliability, and supporting the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Citations:

  1. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ff98ddf2bba3e0704776e208fc7f42e28ddbcd16
  2. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/074553f9891aada02b9fa793eae09c8d06d33669
  3. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/605144b0686ee51f16cce5e8d5e66c34d6e92b7f
  4. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b5fcea0091b3502859a9b3a1929da56f49d74719
  5. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2972f72975d2e3c6cef07bddbe3c4b968fab5030
  6. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/e2ff5f01a853e019b368bd254453cd9c984598ad
  7. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/dbcb10f4ed3fcf1269fdb240ef1b0a3f8eb3509d
  8. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2a2265bbed04f2c4cc768b1fff79e94b4b090c04
  9. https://edmontonjournal.com/business/energy/alberta-power-grid-gets-stronger-with-new-direct-current-transmission-lines
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Alberta_Transmission_Line
  11. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Power_networks/Canada/Alberta
  12. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ae27a761-faaf-4862-813d-0c4c5ec00792/resource/2d436500-db4f-4e01-950d-e174736bdd53/download/transmissionassessmentsummaryfinal.pdf
  13. https://cib-bic.ca/en/medias/articles/cib-invests-283-5-million-in-new-alberta-transmission-line/
  14. https://www.tdworld.com/overhead-transmission/news/55125354/cib-invests-2835-million-in-new-alberta-transmission-line
  15. https://www.aeso.ca/grid/about-the-grid
  16. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/eae6e19b-8519-4ce4-97a3-9eccb908fcdc/resource/d04593f2-9551-4583-a093-04c671f129a6/download/fselectricitytransmission.pdf
  17. https://www.aeso.ca/grid/connecting-to-the-grid/transmission-capability-map
  18. https://www.enmax.com/generation-and-wires/transmission-and-distribution/transmission-and-distribution-lines

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