Power system environmental performance

Overview of the Study Committee C3

SC3 was created in 2002 with the main mission to produce unbiased positions and approaches on power environmental performance and impacts and their implication for management, construction, operation and investment decisions. In 2019, by the approval of a new Strategic Plan, the focus of the group's activities was broadened towards a sustainability approach. The goal is to facilitate and promote the principles of sustainable development through the global exchange of information and knowledge, by synthesizing state-of-the-art practices and developing recommendations in line with global best practice.

The concept of sustainability development is a broad one. The United Nations defines it as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” which necessarily involves considering the three pillars: profits, planet, and people.

SC3 activities are focused on environmental protection and dynamic equilibrium in human and natural systems.

Fortunately, sustainability concern is becoming increasingly relevant within Cigre, and many SCs are already considering the protection of the environment and people while addressing technical issues. Moreover, in the context of the current climate and environmental crisis, sustainability itself is one of the main drivers for moving towards a different and decarbonised electricity system. Therefore, sustainability is now one of the focal points for the entire CIGRE community. In this sense, good communication, cooperation, and collaborative work with other CSs is especially important for SC3.

Highlights

The lack of face-to-face meetings has really slowed down SC3 activities and we still trying to get relaunch the work. Some steps have already been taken.

The Study Committee has had many new members since 2020, as many changes have taken place. The meeting that took place in 2022 Paris Session was the first face-to-face meeting with all of them since the start of the pandemic situation. In 2022 the group has been struggling to get back to the work although some WG haven´t produced any TB.

 The interesting discussion that took place during 2022 session, with great presentations and participation from the audience must be pointed out.

Workstreams

SC C3 has currently 31 regular members (including the Chair and the Secretary) and 8 observers, representing 36 countries.

The scope of the SC3 is categorised into three main Technical Directions, that provide strategic guidance for WGs, that focus on specific questions.

Currently, we have 1 Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), 1 Advisory Group on EMF, 5 ongoing Working Groups and 3 Working Groups to re-start, divided over our Technical Directions. No new Working Group has been approved in 2022.

TD1 Asset management and environment

This TD is aligned with the traditional approach of SC3 works. It refers to the integration of power facilities into the environment, considering their entire life cycle: from the planning stage to their decommissioning (cradle to grave).

The WGs are focused on identifying the interaction between nature and infrastructure and defining tools and measures to minimise their negative impact and enhance their positive contribution. There are some regarding this topic:

C3.09A: “Corridor management”. This WG was disbanded for a few years but TB or articles were not published. With the aim to finish the publications, the TOR of the group was reviewed and a new version of the group (C3.09A) started to work, with some old and new members. The WG are collecting information and comparing regulation, procedures, methods and best practices from different countries that apply to relations with landowners and environmental aspects of corridor management. The objective is to publish a technical document throughout 2023.

WG C3.14 “Impact of Environmental liability on transmission and distribution activities”. The aim of the WG is to create a reference document to enable T&D utilities to understand the possible impact (practical and financial) of environmental liability and to have a view on best practices regarding prevention, investigation, and remediation of environmental damage. The convenor will prepare a short document with the main conclusions of the work of the group for Cigre community

WG C3.16 “Interactions between electrical infrastructure (overhead lines and substations) and wildlife". In 2022, tutorial about the work of WG C3.16 “Interaction between electrical infrastructure and wildlife” was presented in Paris session 2022. The TB has been published in ELECTRA (in 2022).

WG C3.17 “Interactions between wildlife and emerging renewable energy sources and submarine cables". This WG was created to complete WG C3.16 work by addressing renewable projects and associated transmission systems, focusing on operational aspects, though construction impacts are also considered. As the scope of the work is still very broad, the TOR has been reviewed to be re-launched. The focus will be on submarine and underground cables and leave renewable projects for another possible/future WG. There was no agreement regarding the inclusion of offshore substations marine substation platforms, as the potential environmental impacts could be similar to the effects of submarine cables. The SAG is looking to find a new convenor to propose the updated TOR to the Technical Committee.

WG C3.22 “Vegetation management in substations”. The main intention of the work is to identify experiences and knowledge regarding the alternatives to the use of herbicides, but the scope also includes the collection of best practices regarding types of surfaces and vegetation control in substations.

JWG B1/C3.85 “Environmental impact of decommissioning of underground and submarine cables”. It focuses on old and new cables and is investigating the decommissioning strategy (leave it in or dig it up) and impact on environment. The work are in progress.

TD2 Sustainability: the role of the power sector

This TD is to address the new trends in the power sector under a sustainability approach. The aim is to anticipate future challenges and their implications.

Ongoing Working Groups:

WG C3.12 “Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventory and report for transmission system operators”. The purpose of the WG was to review and recommend harmonized procedures and methods for accounting and reporting GHG emissions that can be used by TSO’s worldwide, but the work of this group was temporary suspended due to a lack of members. The TOR was updated, and a new title was proposed: “Managing GHG emissions of T&D activities. Accounting, reducing & reporting progress”. The SAG is looking for a new Convenor and participants to relaunch the works.

WG C3.20 “Sustainable Development Goals in the electric power sector”. The general aim of the WG is to develop recommendations on how the electric power sector should implement SDGs within their business strategies in order to reach a maximum contribution to the achievement of these goals. The objective of the WG is to publish a technical document in 2023.

WG C3.23 “Eco-design methods for TSOs/DSOs under environmental transition”. The purpose of the group is to activate and harmonize the eco-design potential for TSOs/DSOs to reduce environmental impact, given that the implementation of a systemic eco-design approach will be a key success factor to achieve our sustainable goals. As the scope of the work is very broad, the group reviewed the TOR and a new version of the WG will be relaunched in 2023.

TD3 Stakeholder engagement and public acceptance

This TD deals with other traditional issue of SC3 scope of work: people. It includes topics related to EMF (as one of the main discussion issues for stakeholders) and engagement strategies to improve infrastructure development and maintenance.

C3.AG: “EMF and Human Health”. The group provides CIGRE with information and advice on topics regarding EMF and all health aspects related to electrical installations and the use of wireless communication. The scope of the advisory group includes: 

• AC Transmission line environment - 50/60 Hz Electric and magnetic fields; spark discharges
• DC Transmission line environment - Static Electric and magnetic fields; air ions
• Intermediate frequencies and radiofrequencies up to 300 GHz
• Interference with medical implants (pacemakers; cardiac defibrillators, insulin pumps etc.)

WG C3.15 “Best environmental and socio-economic practices for improving public acceptance of high voltage substations”. The Working Group aims to make an inventory of the best practices, options, and boundary conditions for the integration of substations in their environment. The resulting Brochure intends to be an international reference document to be used in the discussion with other stakeholders. It shall help to identify workable solutions from environmental and socio-economic perspectives and increase acceptance by local authorities. No progress has been made since the convenor Marijke Wassens passed away. The members of the group are trying to collect the material and to find someone to finish the Technical Brochure. It would be a nice tribute to her.

WG C3.21 “Including stakeholders in the investment planning process” The goal of this group is to study the best practices of the Cigre members to improve the decision-making processes for grid development both to system operators and the public/local communities. The convenor will prepare a short article to be published in Electra, as a conclusion of the work (as it is not broad and relevant enough to write a TB).

Future Meetings and Events 2023

The next SC-C3 meeting will be held between 3^rd September-7^th of October (2023) during the Sendai Colloquium 2023 (Japan). The theme of the colloquium is “Recent Overhead Transmission Lines Technology and Environmental measures” The Preferential Subject 1: Sustainable OHL, Environment and Planning will be the priority issue related to SCC3.

Specific actions for the recruitment of young experts, Place of Women in the SC

One presentation from a NGN member was included in 2022 Paris Session.

Regarding the place of Women, SC C3 usually has a very significant participation of women: 46% of the members are women and the two last SC3 chair have been women.

Conclusions

Sustainability issues, especially those related to climate change, circular economy, protection of flora and fauna and social acceptance, are increasingly considered and integrated into the work of the CIGRE community. For this reason, it is more important than ever to strengthen the collaboration of SC3 with the other SCs.

CIGRE must be vigilant to identify the needs of the electricity sector and increase its contribution, to move towards a sustainable system, paying attention to our planet and people and SC3 has a key role to play in promoting this change.

To achieve that, we count on the dedication of the SC3 members, observers and WG experts.

Contact

• Contact of the Chair and/or the Secretary of the Study Committee