Potential Factors for HVDC Evaluation in Selection of the Suitable Location Within HVAC System

High voltage direct current (HVDC) technology remains one of the key and preferred option when transmitting power, particularly over long distances when compared with high voltage alternating current (HVAC). It's attractive due to its ability to transmit bulk power with lesser losses, ability to integrate ac systems with different frequencies amongst many other benefits available. The introduction of the HVDC system within the integrated HVAC system requires a number of aspects to be considered, as evaluation criteria in choosing the optimal site location for the HVDC termination point. Although techno-economic evaluation can be used as criterion for site selection, questions might arise given other factors outside the domain that might have been omitted when the decision was made and raising doubts of subjectivity on the decision made. In mitigating the drawback, multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach can be considered for evaluation of the potential HVDC termination points, given a number of key attributes available that needs to be satisfied. The authors aimed at identifying, discussing, and presenting several potential factors deemed to be useful in evaluating the ideal HVDC termination points using the MCDA. These factors identified can be classified into technical, environmental, economic and social aspects.