The Korea Electrical Research Institute (KERI) has established a state-of-the-art "ultra-high-voltage direct current test infrastructure" in Changwon, Korea, at a total cost of about 20 billion won. The infrastructure will help in testing and verifying the performance of power devices in the field of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), which is a next-generation power transmission technology with several advantages over traditional transmission methods.
HVDC is a technology that converts large amounts of power produced in power plants into high-voltage direct current and transmits it over a long distance. This technology has a very small loss during the power supply process, which maximizes energy efficiency. There are not many restrictions on the installation of HVDC transmission lines in urban areas because long-distance transmission can be performed using cables. Another great advantage of HVDC is that the generation of electromagnetic waves is very small, and the social acceptance of this technology is high. HVDC is also a technology specialized in the transmission of power produced by renewable energy such as offshore wind power, making it an essential technology for a sustainable future.
Currently, HVDC systems are being considered for newly introduced power grids, and HVDC-related projects are attracting a lot of attention in Korea to send large amounts of electricity produced on the east coast to the metropolitan area, which has the largest demand. However, as there are not many cases where HVDC has been applied in Korea, more research on the reliability and safety of related power devices and facilities is needed. Until now, domestic companies had to visit overseas testing laboratories for HVDC testing and certification, resulting in economic burdens, delays in delivery, and leakage of key design technologies.
To strengthen domestic companies' export competitiveness in the global market, specialized test infrastructure for HVDC power devices was needed as soon as possible. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry, Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon-si, and KERI started pushing for the "HVDC test infrastructure construction project" in June 2020, investing about 20 billion won in project costs. The completion of the project took about three years, and the test infrastructure occupies an area of 5,643 pyeong (18,622m2) and 467 pyeong (1,540m2).
The construction of the HVDC test infrastructure is expected to contribute significantly to enhancing technology and strengthening export capabilities by quickly supporting the product development of domestic HVDC-related power device companies. The infrastructure will also help to reduce the economic burden and delivery delays incurred by domestic companies visiting overseas testing laboratories. Furthermore, the infrastructure is expected to attract thousands of domestic and foreign experts who will visit Gyeongnam and Changwon every year to take the test, which will have a great effect on revitalizing local economic consumption.
KERI is an internationally recognized testing and certification agency for power devices and a government-funded research institute under the National Science and Technology Research Association of the Ministry of Science and ICT. KERI's mission is to contribute to the development of the national economy by researching and developing technologies related to the electrical industry, including the testing and certification of power devices. The completion of the HVDC test infrastructure construction project marks a significant milestone in KERI's mission to support the electrical industry's growth and development. KERI plans to start testing and certification work in earnest from the fourth quarter of this year after completing the equipment test operation and internal use procedures.
