Overview
IEC TR 63042-100:2016 - UHV AC transmission systems, Part 100: General information is a Technical Report that provides a structured reference to the standards and guidelines applicable to ultra-high-voltage (UHV) AC transmission systems. Published by the IEC Technical Committee 122, this report gives an organized overview of planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation and environmental aspects for UHV AC networks (including equipment and systems for voltages exceeding 800 kV).
Key Topics and Requirements
The report acts as a roadmap to the technical issues and standardization references that apply to UHV AC systems. Major topics covered include:
- Planning: security, stability, reliability, availability, transmission planning and network requirements.
- System design: reactive power compensation, protection and reclosing schemes, insulation coordination.
- Insulation coordination: treatment of lightning overvoltage, slow-front overvoltage (SFO), very-fast-front overvoltage (VFFO) and AC temporary overvoltages.
- Transmission line design: conductor selection, air clearances, right-of-way (ROW), tower structural design and foundations.
- Substation design: site selection, bus schemes, switchgear types (GIS, hybrid, AIS), equipment layout, tertiary circuits and auxiliary systems.
- Main equipment: power transformers, switchgear considerations, air clearances and seismic performance.
- Construction & commissioning: on-site assembly, stringing, quality control and commissioning methodology.
- Operation & maintenance: routines specific to UHV transmission lines and substations.
- Environmental considerations: EMF, electrostatic/ electromagnetic induction, corona-related audible noise and radio interference, earthing and disaster-prevention design.
The report also includes comparative tables (for example, switchgear types and lightning fault behavior) and illustrative figures for bus schemes and commissioning procedures.
Practical Applications
IEC TR 63042-100:2016 is practical for:
- Establishing the overall framework for UHV AC project requirements and harmonizing referenced standards.
- Guiding preliminary design choices (line configuration, substation topology, insulation and surge protection strategy).
- Informing environmental impact assessments and mitigation for EMF, noise and radio interference.
- Framing contractual specifications, procurement lists and acceptance/commissioning tests.
This report is particularly useful when defining system-level requirements before detailed design and when coordinating multiple detailed IEC standards across a UHV project.
Who should use this standard
- Transmission system planners and grid operators
- Utilities and independent power producers
- EPC contractors and design consultants
- Substation and transmission equipment manufacturers
- Regulators and environmental assessors
- R&D teams and academic researchers in high-voltage systems
Related Standards
Refer to other parts of the IEC 63042 series and relevant IEC high-voltage standards for specific prescriptive requirements. For the latest editions and normative references consult the IEC webstore (webstore.iec.ch).
