LS Cable & System has officially begun construction on South Korea’s largest high-voltage direct current (HVDC) project, marking the world’s first commercial deployment of a 500-kilovolt, 90-degree Celsius HVDC cable.

The East Coast-Singapyeong line represents the initial phase of the East Coast-Capital Area Project, designed to transmit electricity from the east coast to the Seoul metropolitan area and enhance the stability of the national power grid. By allowing the conductor to operate at 90°C, compared with the conventional 70°C, the cable can boost transmission capacity by up to 50%.

Certified by Korea Electric Power Corp. in June, the cable leverages LS Cable & System’s extensive experience in both undersea and underground HVDC transmission. The company has previously completed significant domestic projects, including the Jeju-Jindo, Jeju-Wando, and North Dangjin-Godeok lines.

Kim Hyung-won, head of LS Cable’s Energy and Construction Business Division, stated the company aims to strengthen grid stability and expand its participation in global HVDC projects, including Europe’s TenneT and Korea’s West Coast HVDC Energy Expressway.

Globally, HVDC technology is recognized for its efficiency and low transmission losses compared to high-voltage alternating current (HVAC). The international HVDC market is projected to grow from 1.8 trillion won in 2018 to approximately 41 trillion won by 2030.

Source: koreaherald.com