Introduction

Abstract

Overhead Lines look back to a long history from the first AC transmission in 1891 with 15 kV, Figure 1.1, to the 1000 and 1200 kV AC lines of today, Figure 1.2. This unique and this exciting development has been tracked and supported by Cigré in general and the Study Committee for Overhead Lines in particular. Chapter 2 “History of Overhead Lines in Cigré” describes in detail this successful “partnership”. From its very beginning in autumn 1921 Cigré aimed to provide a forum for technical studies on the generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy. In this sense Cigré brought together, on one hand, equipment manufacturers and operators of power plants and transmission lines and electric energy producers, consultant engineers and engineers of major public administration bodies on the other. In addition 1931, coincidentally the year the Study Committee of Overhead Lines was established, Cigré put in place a monthly journal named “Electra”, which is still the printed (today also the electronic) voice of the association. It is at the least remarkable, that in 1946, Cigré was the first technical organization in the world which organized an international conference and brought together worldwide experts who had the enormous task to rebuild electrical infrastructure after the perils of the second world war. In 2000 as another landmark and as a key element in the new approach to communication, the “Conference des Grands Réseaux Électriques à haute tension” became the “Conseil International des Grands Réseaux Électriques”, that it changed from a “Conference” to a “Council” and its scope was extended also to lower voltages. At the same time the areas covered by Cigré’s field of action were redefined. Cigré now covers not only conventional technical expertise but also economic and environmental aspects.

Originally published by Cigré, 2014, under the ISBN 978-2-85873-284-5. Republished by Springer International Publishing Switzerland with kind permission.