Can Four-Phase Transmission Lines be Considered as a Practical Alternative to Traditional Three-Phase Lines in the European electricity market?

This paper aims at investigating the feasibility of four-phase (4P) overhead transmission lines, that could be viewed as a possible alternative to the traditional three-phase (3P) solutions for the construction of new transmission lines. This subject is important especially in the European framework, where expansion and reinforcement of existing transmission systems are increasingly required. This paper performs an economical comparison between innovative 4P transmission lines and traditional 3P lines, with the specific goal of evaluating the contests where a 4P transmission might compete with traditional 3P systems with single or double circuit lines.