The broadband potential of overhead and underground medium-voltage/broadband over power lines (MV/BPL) systems associated with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission technology and energy efficient (EE) or green policies is examined analytically. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, various overhead and underground MIMO/MV/BPL topologies have been studied with regard to appropriate transmission measures and spectral efficient (SE)/EE metrics such as channel attenuation, subchannel efficiency, EE subchannel efficiency, capacity, EE capacity, and power consumption. It is found that the above metrics depend drastically on the frequency, power constraints imposed to suppress electromagnetic interference (EMI) to other services, EE policies adopted to regulate power consumption, power grid type (either overhead or underground), MIMO scheme properties, MTL configuration, the physical properties of the cables used, and other topological characteristics. Second, further insights regarding the transmission and SE/EE capacity properties of various MIMO/MV/BPL systems reveal the similar behavior among single-input multiple-output, multiple-input single-output, and single-input single-output MV/BPL systems due to specific MIMO/MV/BPL channel characteristics. Third, using suitable SE/EE metrics, significant trade-off curves between capacity performance and power consumption described through dynamic quasiconcave curves are disclosed. The definition of proper injected power spectral density mask limits combined with the use of continuous/adaptive EE policies provide both EMI protection and EE-oriented high-bitrate MIMO/MV/BPL system design aiding towards sustainable BPL technology satisfying both Quality of Service requirements and ecological awareness (green technology initiatives). Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
