Successful commissioning of world record breaking multi-terminal
VSC HVDC transmission project in China

World record breaking multi-terminal VSC HVDC transmission project in China Figure 1: World record breaking multi-terminal VSC HVDC transmission project in China

24.01.2014 Caroline Kamerbeek

World record breaking multi-terminal VSC HVDC transmission project in China Dr. Yanny Fu of DNV GL is pictured 4th from the left in a SEPRI group photo which was taken in front of control terminals of Jinniu converter station.. Images by DNV GL

As an independent third party, DNV GL witnessed the successful commissioning of the world’s first three terminals VSC HVDC (Voltage Sourced Converter High Voltage Direct Current) transmission project in China Southern Power Grid.

This project, with designed ratings of ±160kV/200MW-100MW-50MW and based on MMC (Multilevel Modular Converter) technology, brings dispersed intermittent clean wind power generated on Nanao island into the Guangdong power grid through HVDC connections of 32km in total with land/sea cables and overhead lines combined.

This pilot project has innovative research character and is supported by Chinese national science & technology ministry. SEPRI (Electric Power Research Institute, China Southern Power Grid) is technically responsible for the entire project. Multiple suppliers are involved: three different VSC HVDC valve suppliers for three converter terminals, two different XLPE (Cross Link Poly Ethylene) HVDC land/sea cable suppliers and three different control & protection system/equipment suppliers. All of them are Chinese domestic manufacturers.

DNV GL and SEPRI successfully formed a mutual co-operation band once again through this world record breaking project. In 2007, this team collaborated on the world’s first ±800kV/5000MW Yun-Guang LCC (Line Commutated Converter) HVDC transmission project in 2007. On December 19, 2013 when the world’s first three-terminal system had been successfully put into stable operation, Dr. Fanny Yu of DNV GL commented, “I am very happy to have the opportunity of witnessing this world record breaking event in China. Congratulations to SEPRI for your leadership and pioneering work in bringing multi-terminal VSC HVDC transmission technology into a promising sustainable cleaner energy future.” She is standing in the following SEPRI group photo which was taken in front of control terminals of Jinniu converter station.

HVDC2Figure 2: Dr. Yanny Fu of DNV GL is pictured 4th from the left in a SEPRI group photo which was taken in front of control terminals of Jinniu converter station.

The successful commissioning of this multi-terminal VSC HVDC transmission project is a very important milestone, not only for CSG, but also for the global power industry as a whole. It verifies the technical capability of the MMC VSC HVDC transmission technology and provides confidence to the industry for development of the so-called “HVDC super grids” in the future. Dr. Xu Shukai of SEPRI said, “CSG is now the first in the world to have practical experiences in realization and operating a multi-terminal VSC HVDC transmission project which laid foundation for wider applications of this promising technology specially in collecting multi clean energy sources from different geographical locations and then distributing them to multi load centers at different geographical locations.”

Dr. Fu added, “This project is also very important for DNV GL. We are pleased to be involved as an independent third party. We aim to provide the global power industry with the highest level of technical support and services in an effort to address the most challenging technical issues facing our clients by applying innovation and energy industry expertise across the value chain.”

DNV GL press release