Research activities on the environmental impact of AC and DC power transmission systems

The panelist speaks about the extensive research carried out by Canadian utilities on the corona and environmental performance ac transmission lines, particularly at 500 kV and 735 kV. Research activities were also pursued to evaluate the technical feasibility of ac transmission at even higher voltages, up to 1500 kV. Significant efforts were devoted in Canada to the investigation of power frequency electric and magnetic fields (EMF) and their possible impact on human health. Extensive research was also carried out at the National Research Council of Canada as well as at utility research centers in Canada for the design of HVDC transmission lines in the range of plusmn 400 kV to plusmn 500 kV and for evaluating the technical feasibility of transmission at voltages in the range of plusmn 600 kV to plusmn 1200 kV