GE High Voltage Direct Current Systems

Today’s Environment

Globally the utility environment is becoming more complex and utilities are

having to manage new challenges such as:

• Increasing demand for electricity

• Connection of remote generation

• Growth of distant offshore wind

• Integration of variable renewable generation

• Need for security of supply

• Reduce carbon footprint

• Land costs becoming more expensive

• New right-of-way access permits increasing difficult to obtain

The only choice for many utilities is to restructure their grid systems to

manage these challenges. Utilities are looking for cost effective solutions to

transfer power and to improve the quality, stability and reliability of the grid

which will anticipate their needs for the next 20 to 50 years.

HVDC Overview

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) solutions are ideal for supporting existing

AC transmission systems or for building new power highways. HVDC is a

system which interconnects two AC networks, converting AC voltage to DC

voltage, and DC voltage to AC voltage utilizing power electronics technology.

HVDC systems enable transfer of power, interconnection of grids, integration

of renewables and maximize grid performance.

Move more power, further

Ultra HVDC can operate at voltages up to 800kV enabling bulk transport

of electricity over long distances. HVDC systems have lower losses than AC

systems and can transmit up to 3 times more power than AC networks. HVDC

systems are more economical than HVAC for schemes with transmission

distances more than approximately 700 km(~400 miles). The use of insulated

cables in both submarine and underground applications, in combination

with HVDC, allows more power to be transmitted across long water

crossings, or buried out of sight adjacent to roads, railways and tunnels,

which may accelerate the permitting process compared to AC or overhead

DC transmission alternatives.

Integrate renewables

HVDC is a versatile and flexible technology, making it an ideal solution for

integrating renewable energy in modern grids such as remote windfarms,

both offshore and onshore. HVDC can provide additional controllability to

network operators to support efficient management of transmission of

mixed energy sources, including the increasing use of renewables combined

with energy storage.

Interconnect grids

HVDC enables the exchange of energy between two AC networks. In some

cases, this is the only means of neighboring utilities exchanging energy

since they operate at different frequencies or may not be synchronized.

An HVDC interconnection has many benefits, such as allowing neighboring

utilities to reduce and share ‘spinning reserve’, giving access to other lower

cost sources of energy.

Improve quality, stability and maximize network performance

All HVDC solutions provide a 'firewall' to prevent disturbances propagating

from one network to another. They provide fast and highly controllable

power transfer and today can provide reactive power into the local AC

network to improve stability and quality.

The GE Advantage

GE is globally recognized for designing, manufacturing and delivering customized

HVDC solutions for utilities worldwide. GE offers two HVDC technologies, Line

Commutated Converters (LCC) and Voltage Source Converters (VSC), for a broad

range of applications and available in a range of schemes including overhead

line (point to point), back to back, submarine/land cable and offshore.

Every HVDC solution is tailored and designed based on a project-by-project

assessment of the customers’ individual requirements, whether it's for long

distance power transmission, energy trading between independent networks

or connection between asynchronous networks. GE offers the complete

package including early feasibility studies, project management from

network analysis and design, to commissioning. GE is globally recognized

for partnering with customers to deliver technically challenging projects for

more than 50 years and provides customers with the following benefits:

Robust leading edge technology designed and built in advanced

automated manufacturing and testing facilities to maximize

quality and system performance

• Customer value driven innovation built on foundational engineering