The joint venture of Siemens Energy and Sumitomo Electric has completed connecting India’s first high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link featuring voltage-sourced converter (VSC) and DC-XLPE cable technology.

The 2,000 megawatts (MW) electricity transmission system consists of two converter stations, that are connected via two links comprising DC-XLPE cable and overhead transmission line. It enables the power exchange between Pugalur in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and Trichur in Kerala State in South-West India and supports transmission operator Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) in countering the power deficit in India’s southern region and improve the grid stability.

Siemens Energy supplied the two converter stations for the ±320 kilovolt (kV) HVDC system while Sumitomo Electric was responsible for the XLPE HVDC cable system in the DC circuit.

“Thanks to the excellent cooperation between PGCIL, Siemens Energy and Sumitomo Electric, we are now able to proudly commission the first HVDC link in India featuring VSC technology. The result of this fruitful collaboration will significantly help achieving grid programs like the ‘24×7 power for all’ initiative by India’s Ministry of Power to meet the country’s growing power demand,“ said Beatrix Natter, Executive Vice President Transmission at Siemens Energy.

“We are pleased to announce the successful delivery of the first HVDC-XLPE cable project in India. This was achieved through strong support from PGCIL and collaboration between Sumitomo Electric and Siemens Energy at various levels, even during difficult circumstances caused by COVID-19. With the successful completion of this unique hybrid system, consisting of HVDC-XLPE cable and overhead lines, we proved our reliable technology and project execution. I hope this will be a basis for continuous collaboration with PGCIL and a significant contribution to transmission systems in India,” said Masaki Shirayama, Managing Director at Sumitomo Electric.

Siemens Energy is responsible for the design, engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning of the HVDC stations, including converter valves, transformers, cooling systems as well as control and protection technology, plus a complete transition station, while Sumitomo Electric provides design, engineering, supply and installation of the HVDC cable system including civil and installation works. In comparison to conventional HVDC systems, the VSC-based HVDC PLUS technology featured at the Pugalur-Trichur link comes with benefits like additional control features, black start capability, and other functions that will improve the performance and security of the transmission system.

The converter stations are linked via a 108km XLPE HVDC cable system comprising four 27 km cables, which was supplied by Sumitomo Electric, and an overhead transmission line of approximately 155 km installed under another contract.

In February Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, officially inaugurated the link that now has been put into commercial operation and enabled the exchange of electricity in both directions.

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