Environmental Impact Analysis of Electric Power Lines

This work undertakes environmental impact analysis of high voltage overhead transmission lines, with respect to the produced electric and magnetic fields and the admissible reference levels for human exposure foreseen by international guidelines. The characteristics of magnetic and electric fields varying at the frequency of 50 Hz are described and the main calculation methodologies of the field distributions created by high voltage power lines are reviewed. Appropriate simulation techniques are proposed and the obtained results in cases of typical power line configurations are compared to the ones available in the literature. The main factors affecting compliance of the field distributions with the admissible limits and reference levels for human exposure to magnetic and electric fields are investigated and discussed.