| Abstract |
The first modular multilevel converter for HVDC application went operational in 2010. The Trans BayCable project transfers 400 MW of electrical power from Pittsburg, CA to the city of San Francisco,via a subsea cable of 88 km. It clearly demonstrated that the advantages of this technology are not onlyof theoretical nature, but can also be achieved in practice: efficiency comparable to thyristor-basedHVDC plants, very low space consumption due to the absence of filters and, most important for thecustomer, a very good reliability. In the meantime, Siemens was awarded several HVDC PLUS®contracts reaching transmission capacities of up to 1000 MW. The same success could be achieved forStatic VAR Compensators (SVC) based on the modular multilevel concept. Both products willcertainly play a vital role in meeting the future challenges imposed upon the transmission grids, likeintegration of large amounts of renewable energy sources or increasing the power transmissioncapability of the existing grids. |
