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This report reflects the results of U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Grid Modernization project 0074 "Models and methods for assessing the value of HVDC [high-voltage direct current] and MTDC [multiterminal direct current] technologies in modern power grids." The work was done by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in cooperation with Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Siemens. The main motivation of this study was to show the benefit of using direct current (DC) systems larger than those in existence today as they overlap with the alternating current (AC) systems. Proper use of their flexibility in terms of active/reactive power control and fast response can provide much-needed services to the grid at the same time as moving large blocks of energy to take advantage of cost diversity. Ultimately, the project's success will enable decision-makers and investors to make well-informed decisions regarding this use of DC systems. This project showed the technical feasibility of HVDC macrogrid for frequency control and congestion relief in addition to bulk power transfers. Industryestablished models for commonly used technologies were employed, along with high-fidelity models for recently developed HVDC converter technologies; like the modular multilevel converters (MMCs), and voltage source converters (VSC). New detailed models for General Electric Positive Sequence Load Flow (GE PSLF) and Siemens's Power System Simulator (PSS®E), widely used analysis programs, were for the first time adapted to include at the same time both Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and Eastern Interconnection (EI), the two largest North American interconnections. The high-fidelity models and their control were developed in detail for MMC system and extended to HVDC systems in point-to-point and in three-node multi-terminal configurations. Using a continental-level mixed AC-DC grid model, an HVDC macrogrid power flow and transient stability models, the results showed that the HVDC macrogrid relieved congestion and mitigated loop flows in AC networks, and provided up to 24% improvement in frequency responses. These are realistic studies, based on the 2025 heavy summer Western Interconnection (WI) planning model and EI multiregional modeling working group (MMWG) 2026 summer peak cases. This work developed high-fidelity models and simulation algorithms to understand the dynamics of MMC systems. The developed models and simulation algorithms are up to 25 times faster than the existing algorithms. Control algorithms for high-fidelity models were designed and tested for point-to-point and multi-terminal configurations. The multi-terminal configuration was tested connecting simplified models of EI, WI, and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The developed models showed up to 45% improvement in frequency response with the connection of all the three asynchronous interconnections in the United States using fast and advanced DC technologies like the multi-t...

The worldwide demand for electric energy is slated to increase by 80% between the years 1990 and 2040. In order to satisfy this increase in load, many new generators and transmission lines are planned. Implementations of various plans that can augment existing infrastructure have been hindered due to environmental constraints, public opposition and difficulties in obtaining right-of-way. As a result, stress on the present electrical infrastructure has increased, resulting in congestion within the system. The aim of this research is to analyze three techniques that could improve the power transfer capability of the present electric grid. These include line compaction, use of high temperature low sag conductors and high phase order systems. The above methods were selected as they could be readily employed without the need for additional right-of-way.Results from the line compaction tests indicate that line compaction up to 30% is possible and this increases the power transfer capability up to 53%. Additional advantages of employing line compaction are the reduction in electric and magnetic fields, increase in system stability and better voltage regulation.High temperature low sag conductors that were applied on thermally limited lines were seen to increase the power transfer capability. However, a disadvantage of this technique was that the second most congested line, limits the power transfer capability of the system.ii High phase (six phase) order system was noted to have several advantages over three phase system such as lower voltage requirement to transfer equal amount of power and lower electric and magnetic field across the right of way.An IEEE 9 and 118 bus test system were used to evaluate the above mentioned techniques.iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS