The world’s electricity demand is surging, driven by rapid electrification and the clean energy transition. But there’s a major roadblock: our transmission infrastructure isn’t keeping up. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report, Building the Future Transmission Grid, makes it clear - without major upgrades, power grids risk becoming a bottleneck to decarbonization and economic growth.
While traditional transmission expansion is slow and expensive, there’s a faster and more efficient alternative: reconductoring with advanced conductors. By upgrading existing power lines with cutting-edge technology like CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor, utilities can double capacity, reduce energy losses, and accelerate modernization—all without waiting years for new transmission corridors.
The Growing Transmission Challenge
The IEA’s report outlines a stark reality:
- 1,650 GW of renewable energy projects are waiting for grid connections.
- Transmission investment needs to more than double by the 2030s to meet electrification and climate goals.
- Supply chain delays - such as four-year transformer lead times - are stalling new projects.
Permitting delays are also a major roadblock. In developed economies, it takes an average of eight years to approve new extra-high voltage transmission lines. With grid demand growing now, waiting nearly a decade for new lines isn’t an option.
A Faster, Scalable Solution: Reconductoring
Rather than waiting for new infrastructure to be approved and built, utilities can upgrade existing lines with high-performance conductors to rapidly expand capacity.
ACCC® Conductor, for example, uses a carbon fiber composite core to carry more power with less sag, effectively doubling transmission capacity in the same right-of-way. This allows utilities to deliver more electricity without costly and time-consuming new infrastructure projects.
Efficiency Gains and Cost Savings
The IEA report also highlights the rising cost of transmission expansion due to material shortages and higher prices for copper, aluminum, and steel. As energy demand rises, conductor efficiency becomes a critical factor in controlling costs.
By reducing energy losses by 25-40%, ACCC® Conductor not only makes power transmission more efficient but also lowers overall generation costs and emissions. In regions facing long delays in transformer and substation upgrades, more efficient conductors can help offset the need for expensive new infrastructure.
Enabling Energy Integration and Grid Resilience
With many new generation projects stalled due to insufficient transmission capacity, reconductoring offers a way to speed up integration. The ACCC® Conductor’s superior thermal and mechanical performance also makes it well-suited for HVDC applications where high-capacity, long-distance power transfer is essential.
Beyond expanding capacity, reconductoring strengthens grid resilience by reducing the risk of overloads and ensuring stable power delivery as demand grows.
Addressing Supply Chain and Workforce Challenges
The IEA warns that supply chain constraints and a 1.5 million worker shortage in the power sector are slowing expansion efforts. With material costs rising and manufacturing lead times stretching, reconductoring offers a more practical solution than traditional grid expansion.
Unlike building new transmission infrastructure, reconductoring requires fewer materials and significantly less labor, helping utilities work around supply chain constraints while still meeting electrification and decarbonization targets. Plus, ACCC® Conductor’s lighter weight makes installation faster and more cost-effective.
A Practical, Scalable Path Forward
The IEA report delivers a clear message: we can’t afford to wait for transmission expansion to catch up. The slow pace of permitting, supply chain disruptions, and rising material costs are making traditional grid upgrades increasingly difficult.
Reconductoring with ACCC® Conductor offers an immediate, scalable solution, allowing utilities to boost capacity, improve efficiency, and accelerate modernization without waiting for new infrastructure approvals.
By embracing advanced conductors, policymakers and grid operators can take a decisive step toward a more reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy future.
Now is the time to act. The grid of the future can’t wait.