Taihan Cable & Solution, South Korea announced that it had been selected as the cable supplier for a 320kV VSC (Voltage Source Converter)-HVDC and 500kV HVAC power project in the United States.
The contract, which was awarded by LS Power Grid California, LLC, a United States electric utility company and contemplates multiple cable orders with a currently-projected overall value of approximately KRW 90 billion, supports efforts to improve reliability of the power grid in Northern California, including regions like Silicon Valley and San Jose, which have seen a surge in electricity demand due to the recent expansion of AI(Artificial Intelligence) related businesses and other advanced IT companies.
This contract marks Taihan’s official entry into the U.S. HVDC market. HVDC is a key technology for long-distance, large-scale power transmission, converting alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) for transmission.
In particular, the VSC(Voltage Source Converter)-HVDC project awarded to Taihan Cable & Solution is becoming a global trend as it allows for easier bidirectional power transmission and simpler converter station installation compared to LCC(Line Commutated Converter)-HVDC. It can also be applied to renewable energy generation, such as wind and solar power.
In fact, TSOs(transmission system operators) in Europe are increasingly adopting VSC-HVDC for many of their recent grid-connected renewable energy projects and cross-border power grid interconnection projects.
Given the advanced technology required for HVDC cable systems, only a handful of companies worldwide have successfully commercialized this technology.
Taihan Cable & Solution has focused on strengthening its technological capabilities in the HVDC field and previously developed South Korea’s first 525kV VSC(Voltage Source Converter)-HVDC cable system, featuring a 3,000-square-millimeter cross-sectional area and a maximum operating temperature of 90°C.
With this latest contract, Taihan is poised to actively pursue further HVDC projects both domestically and internationally.
The 500kV HVAC cable system, designated as a national core technology, is the highest voltage among commercially available underground cables
Taihan was the first company in South Korea to develop and commercialize this technology, and it has successfully secured and executed all 500kV HVAC projects conducted in North America.
With this latest win, Taihan has achieved the remarkable accomplishment of carrying out all 500kV projects conducted in the U.S
This achievement was made possible by demonstrating the competitiveness and technical capabilities of Taihan’s to multiple power authorities in the U.S. Anticipating the increased demand for replacing aging power grids in the U.S., Taihan has focused its efforts on the U.S. market since 2017. This strategic focus has yielded continuous success, with the company recording over KRW 610 billion (approximately $455 million) in new orders this year alone, achieving record-breaking results.
A spokesperson from Taihan stated, “Extra-high-voltage power grids, such as HVDC and 500kV HVAC, require not only product supply but also highly specialized construction capabilities. Proven track records in such projects are a critical measure of success. As we continue to build on our achievements in this high-value, future-oriented market, we will further strengthen our competitive edge in the growing North American market.