LSIS, the nation’s leading electrical components maker, is poised to jump-start the high voltage direct current (HVDC) market, which has emerged as a growth engine for LSIS in next-generation electricity infrastructure.
The world’s top three juggernauts ABB, Siemens and Alstom — dominate the global HVDC market. The three have been building electricity systems for countries around the world with the HVDC technologies they have commercialized 40-50 years ago.
It was in 1997 that Korea built the nation’s first 3,000MW-class HVDC infrastructure between Jindo and Jeju with the technology the nation introduced from Alstom. The second 4,000MW-class HVDC that could transmit power in both directions was built in 2014.
But Korean companies have so far not experienced the designing and construction of HVDC systems with homegrown technologies.
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) launched a joint research project on the development of homegrown technologies; LSIS was charged with conversion technology, LS Cable & System for underground cables and Taihan Electric Wire Co. for cables in 2009 as part of efforts to undertake HVDC projects in a full-fledged manner.
Korean HVDC projects gained ground in 2009 when KEPCO and Alstom established KEPCO-ALSTOM Power Electronics Systems Inc. (KAPES), a joint venture to collaborate in HVDC technologies, and designated LSIS as a business partner related to the transferring of core technologies.
The KAPES is building HVDC infrastructure between Bukdangjin, Cheungcheongnam-do, and Godeok, Pyeongtaek, costing 318 billion won after signing a deal in 2014, with completion slated for 2018.
Korea has made achievements in R&D activities. Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) and LSIS has operated a joint team to work on the development of the DC circuit breaker, one of the biggest technological barriers in building HVDC infrastructure, since 2013, and the former transferred related technology to LSIS. KERI, which has succeeded in the development of circuit breakers for DC distribution, is now working on research into circuit breakers for DC transmission.
Earlier, LSIS has established a foundation for localizing core equipment and systems by building an HVDC plant capable of handling all jobs ranging from the storing of parts to performance tests, assembling, experimenting, and to trial operation on a site covering 11,157 sq. meters (3,375 pyeong) in the Hwajeong Industrial Complex, part of the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone. The company invested 110 billion won into the project in 2011. In the same year, LSIS successfully developed and test-operated a converter transformer for ±80kV HVDC, and installed the converter transformer at the Geumak Substation in the HVDC Test-bed Complex in Jeju, where the company is conducting a joint research with KEPCO.
LSIS has also finished up the localization of all core parts for HVDC systems, including the thyristor valve for ±250kV to ±200MW systems and C&P (control and protection) system platform. The company has succeeded in test-operating a pilot system at the Jeju HVDC Test-bed Complex last year.
In recognition of its contribution to localizing core HVDC components, LSIS captured the technology award from the 2012 Plenary Session of the Power Technology Division of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers (KIEE) and KIEE Autumn Academic Seminar. The company won three prizes, including the 2012 Electrical/Electronics Product of the Year in recognition of its developing of the thyristor valve from the Korea Institute of Power Electronics at Kyungpook National University in December.
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A crew handles a thyristor valve, a core component of the HDVC.
A view of the Hallim Substation in the HVDC Test-bed Complex in Jeju.(Photos:LSIS)
Prospects of HVDC Market
Currently, alternative current (AC) systems are in wide use in most power grids with direct current (DC) systems being made available in some parts of the world. The future next-generation power grids are forecast to evolve into a hybrid format of mixing AC and DC systems.
Overlapping of DC power networks will connect countries and continents, while adjusting power load balance and supplementing the existing AC transmission networks. HVDC networks guarantees efficiency and stability compared to AC systems.
The top three global players have monopolized the HVDC market whose value stands at an estimated 30 trillion won for the past 50 years. ABB has a 50 percent share of the global market, followed by Siemens with a 30 percent stake and Alstom with 15 percent.
The global HVDC market is projected to surge to $73 billion (some 81 trillion won) in 2020 and $143 billion (about 159 trillion won) in 2030. The HVDC sector is predicted to gain growth momentum in a constant basis as an increasing number of countries, including China, India and South America, turn to HVDC systems on top of a rise in power grid connections among countries and a rising demand for stabilizing power grids and smart grids. Companies can turn to the development of diverse power system technologies and turn-key solution business portfolios, but they are faced with higher technological entry barriers for securing advanced technology capabilities.
Immediate replacing the AC systems with DC systems is not the best option since it requires much costs and time. Given the strengths of DC systems, including efficiency and stability, DC is sure to become mainstream, so many prominent researchers and companies devote themselves to developing DC systems. In order to keep up with a mega trend of DC technologies and reap the fruits of successful technology development, the government is required to aggressively participate in global standardization and implement projects to collaborate in research among industrial, academic and research circles.
The Park Geun-hye government is now turning to the development of DC transmission technologies as one of industrial growth engines of the creative economy. HVDC systems, a combination of high-voltage cables, semiconductors and advanced telecom technologies are essential for transmitting power in remote distances, connecting state-to-state power grids and the utilization of new and renewable energies. DC power transmission systems, which have begun to replace AC systems, are most likely to open new electricity markets and emerge as new future growth engines for Korea.
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