Reconductoring of Transmission Lines Could Ease Electric Crunch

As the United States and nations around the world work to meet net-zero carbon emission goals, upgrading the power grid is becoming a larger challenge. With aging infrastructure and rapidly increasing demand for renewable energy integration, upgrading existing power grids is essential in ensuring that current projected energy production needs can be met and sustained.

Reconductoring refers to the replacement of existing electric transmission lines with advanced conductors that can carry more power. These new conductors can double the capacity of particular sections of the power grid.

A recent study by the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and GridLab illustrates how grid reconductoring will be an essential step for transmission expansion. By replacing traditional conductors with advanced options, the grid can meet over 80% of the new transmission capacity required for renewable integration by 2035. These projects typically take between 18 months and three years to complete, so starting on reconductoring now would help avoid transmission and capacity issues, as opposed to waiting until upgrades are desperately needed.

As of July 2024, national electricity demand is up 4% compared to the same time in 2023, with demand only expected to rise more significantly as the U.S. becomes more dependent on renewable energy sources. Furthermore, it is estimated that, in order to meet net-zero carbon emission goals by 2035, the US will need to increase its energy capacity by more than 300%

There are a few significant advantages of grid reconductoring, including long-term cost savings. Replacing old transmission lines with new advanced conductors would cost just 20% more than the cost of replacing the old lines with newer ones, but with the added advantage of increased transmission and storage capacity, ensuring that upgrades are not needed again for a significant period of time. Additionally, grid reconductoring allows for the use of existing infrastructure, minimizing the need for acquiring land for new transmission lines, and also avoiding regulatory issues.

More than over 98% of current transmission lines in the U.S. are under 50 miles long, which is ideal for reconductoring as opposed to replacing transmission lines. The U.S. also has a significant need for increased storage and transmission capacity. The current U.S. grid is also increasingly prone to outages due to extreme weather conditions, and updating and upgrading much of the national grid system could help to alleviate some of these concerns.