ABB has unveiled a new version of its high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology that the Swiss company says will double power capacity.
The next level of ABB’s HVDC Light technology will enable transmission systems to reach 3GW, the company said.
It will allow installations to deliver as much as 350% more power per square metre used, benefiting applications such as offshore wind.
ABB’s latest HVDC Light technology, also known as VSC HVDC, has also doubled its distance capability to 2000km by increasing voltage up to 640kV.
The advances have been made possible thanks to the development of semiconductor-based power electronic devices that provide greater control, it said.
The company has installed 18 out of the 24 VSC HVDC projects commissioned around the world, including the most powerful offshore wind link.
“We pioneered HVDC technology in the 1950’s as a game changer, and the birth of HVDC Light in 1997 was one of the most significant milestones in our innovation journey” ABB Power Grids president Claudio Facchin said.
“As we mark 20 years of this breakthrough, we are ready to write the next chapter of this technology, with significant enhancements that will help transmit power further with minimum losses and bring major benefits to our customers.”
Image: ABB
