Transmission Line Expansion Planning in a Deregulated Environment

India's power sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, driving the need for increased generation capacity. To support this demand, a robust and efficient transmission system is essential. As the construction of new transmission lines becomes more frequent, it is vital to optimize their design to remain profitable in a deregulated market. This paper presents a cutting-edge method for optimal transmission expansion planning, utilizing the MW-KM method and a cost/benefit index for enhanced optimization. The proposed approach effectively identifies the most economically viable expansion strategies. Additionally, the paper explores the use of High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors as a strategic solution in scenarios where traditional methods are either costly or hindered by Right of Way challenges (RoW). This holistic approach ensures that India’s growing energy needs are met with both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In this paper, a case study on the 5 bus system test system carried out and income of each line calculated on MW-KM method, the number of new transmission lines required is decreased to three from seven by using cost benefit analysis and increased the avg line revenue of the system by 25%. The RoW issues of the planned system successfully addressed in this paper.