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Home / Technical Articles / Analysing the costs of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission
Analysing the costs of HVDC – High Voltage Direct Current
Analysing the costs of HVDC – High Voltage Direct Current (on photo: A transmission line of constant voltage of 600 kV DC, at 2400 kilometers built in Brazil in 2012; by IVOLINES via Flickr)

Topics discussed


Let’s start with introduction!

It specifies a system used for transmitting or exchanging electrical power by means of direct current.

HVDC transmission is widely recognised as being advantageous for long distance bulk power delivery, asynchronous interconnections and long submarine cable crossings.

HVDC is used to transmit electricity over long or very long distance by overhead transmission lines or submarine cables, because it then becomes economically attractive over a conventional AC transmission lines.

Comparative HVDC & AC Transmission Costs
Comparative HVDC & AC Transmission Costs

In a HVDC system, electric power is taken from a three-phase AC network system converted to DC in a converter station, transmitted to the receiving end by a DC cable or a DC overhead line and then inverted back to AC in another converter station and injected in to receiving end AC network system.

HVDC converter station uses thyristor valves to perform the conversion from AC to DC and vice versa. The valves are normally arranged as a 12-pulse converter. The valves are connected to the AC system by means of a converter transformers.

The 12 pulse converter produces odd harmonic currents (h = np ± 1) on the AC side ie 11th, 13th, 23rd, 25th, 35th, 37th and so on… These harmonics are prevented from entering in to the AC network system by providing AC harmonic filters.

12 pulse converter
12 pulse converter

Idc = (V1– V2) / R

The 12 pulse converter produces even harmonic currents on the DC side ie 12th, 24th, 36th. These even harmonics are prevented from entering DC overhead line by providing DC filters.

A large smoothing reactor is always installed on the DC side to reduce ripple in the DC current. This large smoothing reactor also filters these harmonics. However for a submarine cable application instead of DC overhead line DC filters are not required.

An HVDC link is two rectifier/inverter stations connected by an overhead line or DC cables. Bipolar HVDC line uses only two insulated sets of conductors rather than three. This results in narrower rights of way, smaller transmission towers.

For a given cable conductor area, the line losses with HVDC cables is about 50% of that AC cables. This is due to AC cables requiring more conductors ie three phases, carrying reactive component of current, skin-effect and induce currents in the cable sheath and armour.

Transmitting power over DC lines requires fewer conductors (i.e. 2 conductors; one is positive another is negative).

Comparing HVDC and HVAC
Comparing HVDC and HVAC

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Cost structure of HVDC

The cost of an HVDC transmission system depends on many factors, such as:

  • Power capacity to be transmitted,
  • Type of transmission medium,
  • Environmental conditions and
  • Other safety, regulatory requirements etc.

Even when these are available, the options available for optimal design (different commutation techniques, variety of filters, transformers etc.) render it is difficult to give a cost figure for an HVDC system.

Nevertheless, a typical cost structure for the converter stations could be as follows:

Cost structure of HVDC
Cost structure of HVDC

As a guidance, an example showing the price variation for an AC transmission compared with an HVDC transmission for 2000 MW is presented below.

Price variation of HVDC and HVAC
Price variation of HVDC and HVAC

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Assumptions made in the price calculations

For the AC transmission a double circuit is assumed with a price per km of 250 kUSD/km (each), AC substations and series compensation (above 600 km) are estimated to 80 MUSD.

For the HVDC transmission a bipolar OH line was assumed with a price per km of 250 kUSD/km, converter stations are estimated to 250 MUSD.

It is strongly recommended to take contact with a manufacturer in order to get a first idea of costs and alternatives. The manufacturers should be able to give a budgetary price based on few data, as rated power, transmission distance, type of transmission, voltage level in the AC networks where the converters are going to be connected.

The choice of DC transmission voltage level has a direct impact on the total installation cost. At the design stage an optimisation is done finding out the optimum DC voltage from investment and losses point of view.

The costs of losses are also very important – in the evaluation of losses the energy cost and the time horizon for utilisation of the transmission have to be taken into account.

Finally the depreciation period and desired rate of return (or discount rate) should be considered. Therefore, to estimate the costs of an HVDC system, it is recommended that life cycle cost analysis is undertaken.

Two different comparisons are needed to highlight the cost comparison between high voltage AC and HVDC systems:

  1. One is between thyristor based HVDC systems and a high voltage AC transmission system; AND
  2. The other between a VSC based HVDC system; an AC system and a local generation source.

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Thyristor based HVDC system versus high voltage AC system

The investment costs for HVDC converter stations are higher than for high voltage AC substations. On the other hand, the costs of transmission medium (overhead lines and cables), land acquisition/right-of-way costs are lower in the HVDC case.

Moreover, the operation and maintenance costs are lower in the HVDC case. Initial loss levels are higher in the HVDC system, but they do not vary with distance. In contrast, loss levels increase with distance in a high voltage AC system.

The following picture shows the cost breakdown (shown with and without considering losses):

HVDC cost breakdown
HVDC cost breakdown

The breakeven distance depends on several factors, as transmission medium (cable or OH line), different local aspects (permits, cost of local labour etc.). When comparing high voltage AC with HVDC transmission, it is important to compare a bipolar HVDC transmission to a double-circuit high voltage AC transmission, especially when availability and reliability is considered.


VSC based HVDC system versus an AC system or a local generation source

VSC based HVDC systems cater to the small power applications (up to 200MW) and relatively shorter distances (hundred of km) segment of the power transmission spectrum.

The graph below shows that, the VSC based HVDC system is the better alternative economically when compared to either an high voltage AC system or a generation source local to the load centre (e.g., diesel generator).
VSC based HVDC system is the better alternative economically
VSC based HVDC system is the better alternative economically

As a guidance, a price example for a 50 MW VSC transmission with land cable is presented below:

Price example for a 50 MW VSC transmission
Price example for a 50 MW VSC transmission

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Comparative cost information

However, the break-even distance and power transfer level criteria and the comparative cost information should be taken in the proper perspective, because of the following reasons:


1. Conserve the environment

In the present (and future) industry environment of liberalised competitive markets and heightened efforts to conserve the environment. In such an environment, the alternative for a transmission system is an in-situ gas-fired combined cycle power plant, not necessarily an option between an AC transmission and a HVDC one.


2. System prices

Second, the system prices for both AC and HVDC have varied widely even for a given level of power transfer. For example, several different levels of project costs have been incurred for a HVDC system with a power transfer capacity of 600 MW.

What this shows therefore is that, in addition to the criteria mentioned above (power levels, distance, transmission medium, environmental conditions etc.), the market conditions at the time of the project is a critical factor, perhaps more so than the numerical comparisons between the costs of an AC or DC system.

3. Technological developments

Third, technological developments have tended to push HVDC system costs downward, while the environmental considerations have resulted in pushing up the high voltage AC system costs.

Therefore, for the purposes early stage feasibility analysis of transmission system type, it is perhaps better to consider HVDC and high voltage AC systems as equal cost alternatives.

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References
  • High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission Systems Technology Review Paper – Roberto Rudervall, J.P. Charpentier and Raghuveer Sharma
  • Substation design / Appliation guide – V AYADURAI BSC, C.Eng, FIEE

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

11 Comments


  1. Kane Meesawad
    Feb 21, 2024

    Really helpful article, thanks


  2. E.C. Duindam
    Nov 18, 2019

    Hi, interesting article. I’m working on some system level research comparing means of transporting energy and I was wondering if, as someone who seems to know their way around HV, there are any sources that look at pricing of real world HVDC projects, ideally per J/km or something comparable.


  3. MANUEL MESIAS SANCHEZ MASAQUIZA
    Jul 04, 2019

    Buenas me pueden ayudar con el costo para la transmision en cc y los precios de cables utilizados para dicho sistema gracias por la ayuda


  4. Sveinn Margeirsson
    Feb 11, 2018

    Really useful article. I am an industrial engineer in Iceland, in the midst of a discussion on overhead power lines vs underground power cables. Can you point me into the direction of even newer information on this subject?


  5. Engr. Syed Sharafat Ali
    Aug 16, 2017

    Most of Generation in AC but utilization in DC.


  6. S.Ravi
    Jun 04, 2016

    Very useful information.


  7. Mwlin Narzary
    Sep 05, 2015

    How many distance should be between the HVDC power line to a village?? And what the effects on human??


  8. Engr. Muhanna
    Sep 19, 2014

    could you please send to my email a detailed presentation of HVDC System with its advantages & Dis-advantages?


  9. vilas Deshpande
    Aug 23, 2014

    Useful article

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