P35.015: Qualification, Selection and Maintenance of Advanced Conductors

Update Guidelines for the Installation of Advanced Conductors: Generally, composite core conductors have different handling and installation requirements compared to traditional steel core conductors. Typical line installation crews are not as familiar with advanced conductor installation requirements compared with the traditional conductors. Most of the premature advanced conductor failures have occurred due improper installation practices. This task intends to compile best practice guidelines based on manufacturer recommendations and utility experience.

Update Guidance for the Inspection of Advanced Conductors: Composite core conductors generally are more fragile than traditional conductors. There may be a need to evaluate the condition of conductors after installation, impact events, or extreme weather. Additionally, as many lines utilizing advanced conductors start to age, there is a need to inspect and assess the core condition. In 2026, this task intends to further refine the inspection technologies previously identified as well as evaluate the feasibility of robotic/crawler line inspection device.

Perform Qualification Testing of Carbon Core Conductors: Because carbon core advanced conductors have only recently been developed, there is a lack of information on how utilities can qualify them for application on their transmission systems. In 2026, this task intends to test and document the results of a new carbon core conductor (e.g. Epsilon Cable HVCRC or De Angeli-Prodotti ACCM, etc.). This information can be used by utilities to properly evaluate advanced conductors.

Identify Best Practices for the Maintenance of Advanced Conductors: Advanced conductors can operate at temperatures more than 150°C. These temperatures could pose a risk for utility workers and the tools that they use. This task intends to evaluate the effects of high temperature on workers and the tools they use, as well as investigate the effects of these tools on the conductors.

Evaluate Environmental Effects’ Impact on the Performance of Advanced Conductors: This task intends to investigate how exposure to various environmental factors might affect the electrical and mechanical performance of HTLS conductors—specifically, non-steel-core HTLS conductors. The factors that intend to be evaluated are fire, tree falls, hurricanes, tornadoes, and others. In 2026, this task is intended to build on the initial fire testing conducted in 2025.

Develop Guide to Safe Design Tension for ACSS Conductor: Determining a safe conductor tension is a multi-faceted problem that requires understanding of the self-damping performance and fretting fatigue endurance of a conductor. This initiative, which is a collaborative effort with project 35.007, is focused on helping solve this problem initially for ACSS conductor, as its self-damping and fatigue properties vary significantly from ACSR conductor.

Evaluate Field-Aged Conductors and Connectors: This task intends to provide an update on the results of evaluations performed on aged HTLS conductors. Through this evaluation, it is envisioned that a better understanding of the aging impact on the electrical and mechanical performance of these conductors may be obtained. In 2026, this document is intended to be updated with the addition of two further advanced conductor evaluations.

Develop Guidelines for the Specification, Selection, and Application of Advanced Conductors: This task develops a guide (which is intended to be updated each year) to assist utilities in the proper selection and application of advanced conductors. The following information intends to be included:

• Field and test experiences with different advanced conductors
• Application case studies
• Documentation and characterization of various types of conductors
• Review and development of technical specifications of the different advanced conductor types
• Review of the various standards associated with advanced conductors

Provide Tools and Resources on the Transmission Resource Center: The following calculators, tools, result summaries, and references are planned to be available on the Advanced Conductor Transmission Resource Center: