Power Transmission by Direct Current - Historical Engineering

In this review of Power Transmission by Direct Current the book is recommended for engineers, historians of technology and students seeking a detailed account of an early highrisk electrical transmission project. The text focuses on the pioneering Gotland submarine cable that linked the island to mainland Sweden and explains why the scheme was the first commercial realisation of a modern technique for the transmission of electrical energy. The bottom line: buy this if you want a focused, contextual study of an important engineering milestone and an explanation of the practical limits that made the project feasible.

Key Features

• Historic case study: The book provides a concentrated account of the Gotland scheme, showing how circumstances allowed a transmission magnitude that was technically and economically feasible.
• Practical engineering focus: It explains why the power level chosen fell within acceptable limits for both the manufacturer ASEA and the project stakeholders, giving insight into risk management decisions.
• Submarine cable emphasis: The narrative concentrates on the challenges and rationale for using a submarine cable under the Baltic Sea, useful for readers interested in undersea transmission.
• Commercial perspective: The account frames the scheme as the first commercial realisation of modern direct current transmission techniques, highlighting industry context.
• Concise and specific: The description stays narrowly focused on the single scheme, making it a practical reference rather than a broad textbook overview.

Who It's For

The book is best for electrical engineers, project managers and students who want a compact historical and technical discussion of a pioneering direct current transmission project. It is especially useful for those studying submarine cable projects, early HVDC implementations or the decision factors that influence scale and risk in engineering rollouts.

Readers seeking a general textbook on power systems covering wide-ranging theory, or a modern design manual with current component specifications, should look elsewhere; this title concentrates on one historic commercial scheme and the reasoning behind its scale and execution.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear historic case study of the first commercial modern DC transmission project.
• Explains practical decision making about power magnitude and acceptable risk to manufacturer and stakeholders.
• Focus on submarine cable application gives targeted insight for undersea transmission topics.

Cons

• The scope is narrow and focused on a single project, so it is not a comprehensive textbook on all DC transmission technology.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Power Transmission by Direct Current is a focused, valuable read for anyone wanting a concise historical and engineering account of the Gotland HVDC scheme. Its strength is the practical explanation of why the project scale was chosen and how commercial and manufacturer risk factors aligned; that makes it good value for specialists and students studying early DC transmission projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover technical details of the submarine cable?
The book concentrates on the Gotland submarine cable within the project narrative and explains its role and rationale, though it is not a full installation manual.

Is the book suitable for modern HVDC designers?
Designers will find historical and decisionmaking context useful, but should supplement it with current technical standards and modern component specifications.

Who published the account of the project?
The work is attributed to E. Uhlmann and focuses on the commercial realisation by industry actors including ASEA as the manufacturer.