Hitachi Energy Supports Huge Step in Germany's Energy Transition

Aug 04, 2022 10:02 JST

Source: Hitachi, Ltd.

HVDC Light transmission system will transfer vast amounts of renewable energy for up to 5 million households and help Germany achieve its 2045 carbon neutrality goal

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Aug 04, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it has won a major order from TenneT and TransnetBW, two of Germany's four transmission system operators, to supply a transmission solution for the SuedLink DC4 high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection between the north and south of the country.

SuedLink DC4 is one of the most important power grid and energy transition projects in Germany. It will play a crucial role in Germany's energy transition, enabling a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and helping the country achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.(1)

Using Hitachi Energy's HVDC Light technology, SuedLink DC4 will transfer up to 2,000 megawatts of emission-free electricity, enough to power 5 million German households.(2) The link will efficiently transmit electricity for 550 kilometers underground, at +/= 525 kilovolts, sending wind power from the north to the industrial south, or alternatively solar power from the south to the north when needed.

"We are proud to play a crucial role in this very important investment in Germany's transition to renewable energy and carbon neutrality," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "HVDC Light is the enabling technology for large-scale transfers of renewable energy, both onshore and offshore."

"SuedLink will form the backbone of the energy transition in Germany. With the award of the DC4 high-voltage direct current system to Hitachi Energy, we are now moving towards the realization of this important power link," says Tim Meyerjurgens, Chief Operations Officer of TenneT.

SuedLink DC4 transmits electricity between Wilster in the north and Bergrheinfeld in the south.

Hitachi Energy will supply an HVDC Light converter station at each end of SuedLink DC4 to convert AC power from the transmitting grid to DC for delivery through the link, and back to AC for transfer to the receiving grid. The contract includes three cable section stations to speed up fault detection in the link.

As part of its long-term commitment to Germany's energy transition, Hitachi Energy has recently won or completed orders for solutions that integrate large-scale renewables(3). These include the converter stations for the NordLink(4) HVDC interconnector between Germany and Norway, the converter stations for the connection of the 900-megawatt DolWin5(5) offshore wind farm in the German North Sea, the Kriegers Flak Combined Grid Solution(6) which connects the German power grids with two offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea and Denmark, and power quality solutions to enable more renewable energy to flow from north to south Germany.

Note:

Hitachi Energy's HVDC solution combines world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves, the MACH digital control platform(5), which enables renewables integration and manages voltage and frequency disturbances in the grid; converter power transformers and high-voltage switchgear, as well as in system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning.

HVDC Light is a voltage source converter technology developed by Hitachi Energy. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables and "power-from-shore" connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC Light's defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world's HVDC projects.

(1) Climate Change Act: climate neutrality by 2045. (bundesregierung.de)
(2) Suedlink - TenneT
(3) Hitachi Energy HVDC projects in Germany
(4) NordLink
(5) DolWin5 | Hitachi Energy
(6) Kriegers Flak Combined Grid Solutions (KF CGS) HVDC | Hitachi Energy
(7) Modular Advanced Control for HVDC (MACH)

HVDC website:
https://www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdc

About Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD. https://www.hitachienergy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy

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About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

For more information, visit www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2022/08/220804b.pdf.

Sectors: Energy, Alternatives