Knowledge Programme > Sustainability and Climate

 

CIGRE is a world leader, we offer a scope of work covering the end to end power system. With over 4000 experts collaborating in our knowledge development programme, our electricity work on the energy transition is as global as it is comprehensive.

 

A key part of this work is around sustainability and climate and is enabled by our international study committees and working groups.

 

These groups involve experts from all over the world and the work they produce is renowned as a practical, world class, technical resource.

Information on CIGRE’s technical work and resources on sustainability and climate follows:

 

13
Study
Committees
33
Working
groups
36
Technical
Brochures

 

CIGRE’s scope of work on sustainability and climate

 

To follow is a list of the areas of scope relating to sustainability and climate grouped by each of our relevant global Study Committees.

 

A1  Power generation and electromechanical energy conversion

• High efficiency electrical machines including generators & motors

• E2E use of sustainable and recyclable materials in machine design and operation

• Equipment for SMR nuclear generation plant

 

A2  Power transformers and reactors

• Impact of severe weather and climate changes on transformers

 

B1  Insulated cables

• Recycling of cable materials and change to more environmental materials.

• Resilient cable systems will be more adapted to climatic changes.

 

B2  Overhead lines

• Increased climatic loads and impact on overhead lines reliability and ageing

 

B3  Substations and electrical installations

• Circular economy in the construction, operation and maintenance of substations

 

B5  Protection and automation

• Protection and Automation to improve grid resilience related to climate change 

 

C1 Power system development and economics

• Natural resources depletion and critical materials for system development

 

C2  Power system operation and control

• Resilience, high impact low probability high impact events

 

C3  Power system sustainability and environmental performance

• Climate change mitigation (decarbonization & Net Zero) and adaptation (risks & opportunities)

• Environmental & social impacts of power system development and operation

 

C4  Power system technical performance

• Dynamic modelling of climate-related events and integration into bulk power system performance analysis

 

C5  Electricity markets and regulation

• Impacts of emission reduction on markets

 

D1  Materials and emerging test techniques

• Alternative materials with a lower carbon footprint than incumbent options

 

D2  Information systems, telecommunications and cybersecurity

• Reducing the carbon footprint of telecommunications equipment with consolidation of services on shared equipment through network and server virtualisation technologies

• Use of sensors and wireless IoT communication to detect conditions such as human activity in order to enter low power mode

 

 

Current working groups relating to sustainability and climate

 

To follow is our current working groups presented by our Study Committee structure. Working groups culminate with the production of a report, called a Technical Brochure.

 

Group A – Equipment

 

A1  Power generation and electromechanical energy conversion

 

WG A1.75 Large air-cooled turbo-generator – state of the art, limits and perspectives for Small Modular Reactors
 

WG A1.76 Study on Eco-Design, Circular economy and impacts on generator production process
 

WG A1.64 Guide for Evaluating the Repair/Replacement of Standard Efficiency Motors
 

WG A1.60 Guide on economic evaluation for refurbishment or replacement decisions on hydro generators

 

A2  Power transformers and reactors 

 

WG A2.56 Power Transformer Efficiency


WG A2.60 Dynamic Thermal Behaviour of Power Transformers  


WG A2.62 Analysis of Transformer Reliability


WG A2/C3.70 Transformer Life Cycle Assessment

 

A3  Transmission and distribution equipment


WG B3/A3.60 User guide for non-SF6 gases and gas mixtures in Substations

WG A3/A2/A1/B1.44 Consequence of High Voltage Equipment operating exceeding highest system voltages

 

WG A3.51 Requirements for HV T&D Equipment operating under Abnormal Weather Conditions

 

 

Group B – Technologies

 

B1  Insulated cables

 

WG B1/C5.85 Environmental impact of decommission of cables


WG B1.54 Behaviour of cable systems under large disturbances.


WG B1.58 Asset management in MV cable network


WG B1.88 Replacement gas for SF6 in cable accessories

 

 

B3  Substations and electrical installations


WG B3/A3.60 User guide for non-SF6 gases and gas mixtures in Substations

 

B4  DC systems and power electronics

 

WG B4.94 Application of VSC-HVDC in a System Black Start Restoration


WG B4.89 Condition Health Monitoring and predictive maintenance of HVDC Converter Stations

 

 

Group C – Systems

 

C1  Power system development and economics

 

WG C1/C4.46  Optimising power system resilience in future grid desig

 

C4  Power system technical performance

 

WG C4.47 Power System Resilience


WG B5/C4.61 Impact of Low Inertia Network on Protection and Control


WG B5/C4.79 Protection Roadmap for Low Inertia and Low Fault Current Networks

 

C6  Active distribution systems and distributed energy resources

 

WG C6.45 The Impact of DER on the Resilience of Distribution Networks

 

 

Group D – New Materials and IT

 

D1  Materials and emerging test techniques

 

WG D1.78 Partial discharge properties of non-SF6 insulating gases and gas mixtures


WG D1/B1.75 Strategies and tools for corrosion prevention for cable systems


WG D1.73 Nanostructured dielectrics: Multi-functionality at the service of the electric power industry


WG D1.69 Guidelines for test techniques of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) systems


WG D1.68 Natural and synthetic esters - Evaluation of the performance under fire and the impact on environment


WG D1.63 Partial Discharge Detection under DC voltage stress


WG D1.62 Surface degradation of polymeric insulating materials

 

 

 

Technical Brochures already published relating to sustainability and climate

 

Working groups culminate with the production of a report, called a Technical Brochure (TB), reflecting the state of the art, listing best practices, or proposing recommendations for standardisation. To follow is a list of the current TBs relating to sustainability and climate grouped by Study Committee.

 

Group A – Equipment

 

A1  Power generation and electromechanical energy conversion

 

TB 641 Guide on Economic Evaluation of Refurbishment / Replacement decisions on Turbogenerators

 

TB 724 Guide on Use of Premium Efficiency IE3motors for Determining Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

 

TB 729 Technological Feasibility Studies for Super and Ultra-Premium Efficient Motors

 

A2  Power transformers and reactors 

 

TB 887 Power Transformer Life Extension

 

TB 755 Transformer Bushing Reliability

 

TB 659 Transformer Thermal Modelling

 

TB 642 Transformer Reliability Survey

 

TB 445 Guide for Transformer Maintenance

 

A3  Transmission and distribution equipment

 

TB 871 Current Interruption in SF6-free Switchgear

 

TB 816 Substation equipment overstress management

 

TB 589 The Impact of the Application of Vacuum Switchgear at Transmission Voltages

 

TB 914 Guidelines for SF6 end-of-life treatment of T&D equipment (>1kV) in Substations

 

 

Group B – Technologies

 

B1  Insulated cables

 

TB 689 Life Cycle Analysis of underground cables

 

TB 912 Condition evaluation and lifetime strategy of HV cable systems

 

B2  Overhead lines

 

TB 350 How overhead lines respond to localized high intensity winds

 

TB 598 Guidelines for the management of risk associated with severe climatic events and climate change on overhead lines

 

TB 905 Sustainability of OHL conductors and fittings – Conductor assessment and life exension

 

B3  Substations and electrical installations

 

TB 614 Air Insulated Substation Design for Severe Climate Conditions

 

TB 802 Application of non-SF6 gases or gas-mixtures in medium and high voltage gas-insulated switchgear

 

TB 886 Guidelines for Fire Risk Management in Substations

 

TB 914 Guidelines for SF6 end-of-life treatment of T&D equipment (>1kV) in Substations 

 

B4  DC systems and power electronics

 

TB 847 Cyber Asset Management for HVDC and FACTS

 

TB 821 Capabilities and requirements definition for power electronics based technology for secure and efficient system operation and control

 

 

Group C – Systems

 

C1  Power system development and economics

 

TB 820  Optimal power system planning under growing uncertainty

 

TB 882 Closing the gap in understanding between stakeholders and electrical energy specialists

 

Green Book: Power System Assets - Investment, Management, Methods and Practices

 

TB 882  Closing the gap in understanding between stakeholders and electrical energy specialists

 

C2  Power system operation and control

 

TB 868 Mitigating the risk of fire starts and the consequences of fires near overhead lines for System Operations

 

C4  Power system technical performance

 

TB 885 Guide on the assessment, specification and design of synchronous condenser for power system with predominance of low or zero inertia generators

 

TB 855 Effectiveness of line surge arresters for lightning protection of overhead transmission lines

 

C5  Electricity markets and regulation

 

TB 710 Impacts of environmental policy on power markets

 

TB 897 “Carbon Pricing in Wholesale Electricity Markets”

 

 

Group D – New Materials and IT

 

D1  Materials and emerging test techniques

 

TB 849 Electric performance of new non- SF6 gases and gas mixtures for gas-insulated systems

 

TB 846 Electrical Insulation Systems at Cryogenic Temperatures

 

TB 730 Dry air, N2, CO2 and N2/SF6 mixtures for gas-insulated systems

 

TB 661 Functional nanomaterials for electric power

 

TB 636 Diagnostics and accelerated life endurance testing of polymeric materials for HVDC application

 

TB 611 Feasibility study for a DC Tracking & Erosion test

 

TB 520 Material properties of solid HVDC insulation systems

 

 

 

 

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