Abstract Achieving sustainability advancements in power transmission requires an integrated approach that combines cutting-edge technology, operational expertise, and power system’s research which are core values of the CIGRE community. This paper explores a collaborative initiative by the Italian National Study Committees B4 and C3 by involving a technology provider, a transmission utility and a power system research centre, aimed at advancing the sustainability of modern power grids with specific focus on HVDC systems. As global energy demands increase and environmental concerns mount, this paper seeks to address key sustainability challenges through targeted advancements in transmission technology and operational green practices. In the first section a technology outlook is provided including a list of focus points from sustainability perspective. It is provided a comparison of LCA and circularity between HVDC and HVAC systems, offering insights into manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life phases. This analysis addresses key circularity aspects to improve material reuse and minimize environmental footprints throughout the technology’s lifecycle. By establishing a structured comparison, the paper explores how HVDC technology can advance sustainable practices across design and operational stages. The second section contributes to the study by focusing on the integration of large infrastructure projects into the environment, specifically addressing mitigation strategies for visual impacts, interference with priority habitats both at sea and on land. These considerations are essential as HVDC systems require significant physical volumes. A general framework of regulatory and policy needs is given, including EU and national guidelines, to balance the possible environmental impacts and translate the short, medium and long-term results in KPIs not measurable with traditional economical frameworks. The final section includes a comprehensive LCA study, drawing from recent data from updated and improved environmental impact estimates according to the life cycle methodology of the current Italian electricity mix and 2030 scenarios. Although most expertise come from HVAC experience, similar methodology can be translated to the HVDC context, utilizing PNIEC (National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan) targets and projections through 2030. This time-based LCA perspective highlights how the environmental impact of the kWh evolves, emphasizing that as time progresses, the role of power losses becomes more pronounced, with manufacturing and end-of-life impacts relatively diminishing in the overall footprint. This interdisciplinary approach underscores the value of combining technology, utility operations, and research to establish HVDC as a sustainable backbone for future energy grids, providing a replicable model for responsible and effective deployment of advanced transmission systems.
Brigato et al. (Fri,) studied this question.