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ACCC (Aluminum Conductor Composite Core) is a registered trade mark for a type of "high-temperature low-sag" (HTLS) overhead power line conductor.
CTC Global developed and commercialized the ACCC Conductor. The ACCC Conductor uses a carbon fiber core that is surrounded by glass fibers that improve elasticity and serve as a galvanic barrier to prevent corrosion with the aluminum strands. [1]
It is able to carry approximately twice as much current as a traditional aluminium-conductor steel-reinforced cable (ACSR) cable of the same size and weight, [2]
Its light weight and softness result in roughly 30% greater conductivity than an equivalent ACSR conductor, allowing 14% more current to be carried at equal temperature. For example, 1.107 in (28.1 mm) diameter ACCC "Drake" conductor at 75 °C has an AC resistance of 106 mΩ/mile, [3] while equivalent ACSR conductor has an AC resistance of 139 mΩ/mile, [4] 31% higher.
Operation at high temperatures implies high line losses, which may be uneconomical, but the ability to carry such current contributes to the redundancy of the electric grid (the high overload capacity can stop a potential cascading failure) and thus can be valuable even when rarely used directly. Even at higher operating temperatures, the ACCC conductor's added aluminum content and lower electrical resistance offers reduced line losses compared to other conductors of the same diameter and weight.
ACCC Conductor enables cost-effective and time-efficient doubling of transmission capacity within existing rights-of-way, overcoming permitting and cost barriers, and unlocking access to renewable energy - helping meet over 80% of needed interzonal transmission for 90% clean electricity by 2035, with projected system cost savings of $180 billion by 2050. [5]
