HD Hyundai Electric has partnered with Hitachi Energy, a worldwide leader in high voltage direct current transmission technology, to establish dominance in the West Coast Energy Highway initiative. The organization intends to strengthen its market position by creating specialized HVDC transformer manufacturing facilities in Ulsan.
At the Korea-Sweden Sustainable Partnership gathering, HD Hyundai Electric entered into a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding with Hitachi Energy regarding HVDC technology. The Swedish-based Hitachi Energy has achieved a dominant position within the HVDC sector.
This partnership seeks to gradually obtain essential technologies in alignment with governmental localization policies and to establish domestic HVDC system infrastructure at an early stage, as the government's West Coast Energy Highway initiative builds momentum.
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Both organizations will collaboratively examine the most effective contract framework and execution structure for HVDC initiatives. They will also explore optimal technical collaboration strategies for the comprehensive HVDC transmission network system, encompassing conversion equipment, transformers, and control mechanisms, following the government's localization policy guidelines.
The voltage source converter HVDC represents the technology being implemented in the West Coast Energy Highway initiative.
This system is well-suited for renewable energy integration due to its capability for real-time bidirectional power flow management. Hitachi Energy has delivered over 70 percent of VSC HVDC systems globally and finalized Korea's inaugural VSC HVDC installation in the Wando-East Jeju corridor this past December.
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Alongside the HVDC technology collaboration with Hitachi Energy, HD Hyundai Electric aims to substantially improve its competitive advantage in this sector by converting the new manufacturing facility currently being built at its Ulsan location into a specialized production center for HVDC transformers.
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A company official stated, “To successfully complete the 2GW-class Saemangeum-West Hwaseong section demonstration project by 2030, participation of a reliable company with system completion experience is essential.” He added, “Based on cooperation with Hitachi Energy, we will enhance our competitiveness not only in this demonstration project but also in the global HVDC market.”