Full-scale, third party tests on ABB Power Grids’ Hybrid high-voltage direct current (HVDC) breaker, carried out in the KEMA Laboratories (Netherlands) in front of attending European TSOs and grid developers, successfully proved the maturity of the technology. This development is significant in shaping the future of sustainable energy, increasing access to reliable and affordable energy for all.
The tests were performed as part of the ‘Progress on Offshore Meshed HVDC Transmission Networks’ (PROMOTioN) project, which was set up to unlock the full potential of Europe’s offshore resources and tackle the technical, regulatory, financial and legal challenges to the implementation of these networks. The test program was developed under the PROMOTioN project and agreed with the other participating HVDC circuit breaker manufacturers.
ABB Power Grids’ Hybrid HVDC breaker removes a significant technical challenge in the development of HVDC grids, which has been a limitation for high voltage DC technology expansion. It permits the transmission system to maintain power flow if there is a fault on one of the lines; the breaker isolates the fault by breaking the direct current, even if extremely high-power levels are required. Earlier deployment of HVDC has led to an increasing number of point-topoint connections, and some multi-terminal systems, in different parts of the world.
