Why HVDC Can Hurt Fire Resilience

02/17/19

“Why are the most serious drawbacks to HVDC lines?”

 

HVDC lines are one of the hottest topics in the renewable energy world nowadays. Their ability to transmit a large volume of electricity across great distances with minuscule losses can make them a vital part of easing the duck curve. However, their high voltage also means that if they get sapped, they have a much higher potential to produce a fire. This will have great implications for the regionalization of California, where increased connectivity to other states could bring grid stability but exacerbate the potential for chaos.