LS Electric and GE Vernova Begin Localization of HVDC Converter Equipment

MOU Signed for Localization of GW-Class Voltage Source HVDC Converter Valves
Aiming to Secure Leadership in the West Coast Energy Expressway

LS Electric is embarking in earnest on the localization of “voltage source high-voltage direct current (HVDC)” technology, which is expected to be the key to the next-generation national power grid. Through this, the company aims to secure a leading position in the “West Coast Energy Expressway” project.

On July 23, LS Electric announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global energy solutions company GE Vernova at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, for the localization of conversion equipment for HVDC. The signing ceremony was attended by Ja-kyun Koo, Chairman of LS Electric; Jong-woo Kim, President of LS Electric; Philippe Piron, President of the Electrification Business Division at GE Vernova; Johan Vindel, Head of the Grid Integration Systems Division (Vice President) at GE Vernova; Alexei Kral, Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Korea; and approximately 50 other participants.

LS Electric signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the localization of HVDC conversion equipment with global energy solutions company GE Vernova on the 23rd at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. (From the top right clockwise) Ja-kyun Koo, Chairman of LS Electric; Jong-woo Kim, President of LS Electric; Johan Vindel, Head of Grid Integration Systems Division (Vice President) at GE Vernova; and Philippe Piron, Head of Electrification Business Division (President) at GE Vernova, are posing for a commemorative photo. LS Electric Photo by LS Electric

At the event, the two companies agreed to begin full-scale technical cooperation to localize the converter valve?a core component of gigawatt (GW)-level voltage source HVDC?by leveraging LS Electric’s HVDC production infrastructure.

LS Electric has already completed the localization of converter transformers (CTR) for HVDC conversion. The company plans to internalize GE Vernova’s advanced technology in converter valves and complete the localization of voltage source conversion equipment as well.

HVDC is a technology that converts alternating current (AC) power generated at power plants into high-voltage direct current (DC) for transmission, then reconverts it into AC near the point of consumption for supply. Compared to conventional AC transmission, HVDC has lower transmission losses, is more suitable for underground and submarine cable applications, and offers superior economic efficiency and stability for large-scale power transmission.

In particular, voltage source HVDC offers advantages over conventional current source HVDC in terms of grid stabilization and enables real-time, bidirectional power flow control, making it more suitable for integrating renewable energy sources. For this reason, it is considered essential to realize the “West Coast Energy Expressway,” which will connect offshore and renewable energy produced in the Honam region to the Seoul metropolitan area by 2030.

If the HVDC segment, which is central to the West Coast Energy Expressway, relies solely on foreign technology, issues such as delivery delays and cost increases may arise due to international circumstances or exchange rate fluctuations. LS Electric plans to quickly secure technology related to converter valves and transformers, and then leverage its turnkey capabilities to lead GW-level projects.

In 2011, LS Electric invested 110 billion won to establish the nation’s first dedicated HVDC plant in Busan, capable of handling everything from component receipt to performance testing, assembly, inspection, and commissioning. After signing a “voltage source HVDC global business cooperation MOU” with GE Vernova in January last year, the two companies have been jointly responding to domestic and international HVDC demand. For the first phase of the East Coast?Metropolitan Area HVDC project (“East Coast?Shingapyeong” section), LS Electric won orders for 24 converter transformers, and for the second phase (“East Coast?East Seoul” section), it secured orders for all 40 units.

Ja-kyun Koo, Chairman of LS Electric, stated, “LS Electric was the first in Korea to establish a dedicated HVDC plant and is the only domestic company with experience in HVDC CTR projects. Through this collaboration with GE Vernova, we will achieve the localization of converter valves, the core equipment for HVDC, and ensure the nation’s independence in next-generation transmission technology.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.