In this paper, the economics of some alternative solutions for point-to-point transmission of bulk power over long distances, namely, HVDC and half-wavelength lines (HWLL), are evaluated. Also, the main technical aspects of the half-wave length transmission technology in order to define the line design and its required equipment are discussed. A two-line, 2500 km transmission system (which is half the wavelength of a 60 Hz power frequency) carrying 6000 MW is used as the base case to perform the comparison. Finally, issues related to the sensitivity of such a cost comparison between the HVDC and HWLL alternative is presented.

Different configurations and transmission technologies regarding the geographic distances and the expansion of the electrical system in large countries can be proposed. These technologies must meet the technical criteria considering the minimal cost. The minimal cost solution aims at bringing low tariffs to the final consumer. Accordingly, this paper will present the assessment of the economic limit of HVDC and both HVAC transmission, when issues like the variation of the voltage level (kV), the transmitted power (MW) and the line length (km) are considered.

A Half-wavelength line (HWLL) is a specific type of power transmission that operates on AC power and the length of which is close to 2500 km for a 60-Hz frequency. Such a line is considered as an option for transmission over long distances. This paper proposes some electrical requirements to be met during design. Also, issues like the economic-based selection of the conductor cross section, the N-1 planning criterion compliance, the tower geometry definition and operation strategies for different load levels are discussed. Short circuit and energization simulation results are also presented. The studies were based on a 1000 kV line carrying 6000 MW.

With the advent of Industry 5.0, the electrical sector has been endowed with intelligent devices that are propelling high penetration of distributed energy microgeneration, VPP, smart buildings, and smart plants and imposing new challenges on the sector. This new environment requires a smarter network, including transforming the simple electricity customer into a “smart customer” who values the quality of energy and its rational use. The SPG (smart power grid) is the perfect solution for meeting these needs. It is crucial to understand energy use to guarantee quality of service and meet data security requirements. The use of simulations to map the behavior of complex infrastructures is the best strategy because it overcomes the limitations of traditional analytical solutions. This article presents the ICT laboratory structure developed within the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Polytechnic School of the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). It is based on an architecture that utilizes LTE/EPC wireless technology (4G, 5G, and B5G) to enable machine-to-machine communication (mMTC) between SPG elements using edge computing (MEC) resources and those of smart city platforms. We evaluate this proposal through simulations using data from real and emulated equipment and co-simulations shared by SPG laboratories at POLI-USP. Finally, we present the preliminary results of integration of the power laboratory, network simulation (ns-3), and a smart city platform (InterSCity) for validation and testing of the architecture.

This article describes the design of a half-wavelength transmission system, which is part of a large research project currently developed by several Brazilian power transmission companies together with some academic institutions. The aim is to compare non-conventional power transmission alternatives for distances greater than 2000 km. Initially, some properties of half-wavelength transmission lines are briefly explained along with the drawbacks that deserve some kind of mitigation. Thereafter, a methodology that defines common premises, steps for line design and scope for cost estimation is introduced. It can be stated that this methodology enables a consistent comparison among the various transmission alternatives considered in the project as a whole.