information

URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-201311279230
URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-201311279242

Abstract

The governmentally encouraged use of renewable energy sources as a result of the transformation of the energy system (energy turnaround - Energiewende) in Germany leads to long distances between the points at which electric power is generated and consumed. This presents a need to build new long-distance power transmission lines. Highvoltage direct current (HVDC) power lines are to be employed as a part of this grid expansion.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) requested the Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) to supplement its previous statement on alternating voltage energy supply systems (SSK 2008) by providing an assessment of HVDC power lines, especially of their constant electric and magnetic fields, in terms of radiation protection aspects with regard to human exposure.

In view of the anticipated ambient levels of electric and magnetic fields attributable to HVDC lines, and considering the prevailing regulatory gaps, the SSK recommends that the constant electric fields of HVDC lines be limited with the goal of preventing health impairment or substantial discomfort, and that a weighted summation of individual contributions be conducted in cases of simultaneous exposure to constant and alternating electric fields.

Since for the time being available data do not allow deriving reliable threshold values of perception, annoyance, pain and danger the SSK recommends that further research be conducted on perception, mainly in the form of human studies.

Furthermore, grid operators should be requested to prevent possible secondary effects (such as electric shocks) by taking suitable corrective action, primarily with a focus on constructive measures.

The SSK notes the need to protect individuals who carry magnetically activatable implants and recommends that environmental static magnetic flux densities be limited to 500 µT.