Advanced Sensing and Diagnostic Techniques for HVDC Transmission

Dear Colleagues,

The development of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission technology has accelerated significantly over the last decade, driven by the need to integrate large-scale renewable generation and interconnect distant power systems. However, most existing monitoring and diagnostic solutions are still derived from High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) practices, despite the fundamentally different physical phenomena governing HVDC systems. In particular, aspects such as insulation ageing under constant electric fields, space charge accumulation, transient overvoltages, polarity reversal, and energization dynamics introduce complex electrothermal and electromechanical stresses that are not adequately addressed by traditional HVAC-based monitoring approaches.

This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in sensing technologies and diagnostic methodologies specifically tailored for HVDC assets, including cables, joints, terminations, and converters. It encourages contributions on the design of dedicated sensors, measurement and data acquisition systems, and analytical techniques capable of capturing the unique characteristics of HVDC operation.

The topic is particularly timely, as standards and technical references—such as recent IEEE recommendations and CIGRÉ Technical Brochures on HVDC cable testing and diagnostics—have only recently begun to formalize requirements for monitoring and condition assessment in HVDC environments. Within this context, integrating innovative sensors, optical and electromagnetic measurement techniques, and AI-driven diagnostic systems represents a crucial step toward reliable, continuous asset monitoring and lifetime prediction.

Dr. Giuseppe Rizzo
Prof. Dr. Guido Ala
Prof. Dr. Pietro Romano
Guest Editors

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