The development of a core technology for converter power devices that can supply both active and passive power in a single device is expected to facilitate the stable supply of renewable energy and long-distance power transmission.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) Power Conversion System Research Center announced on the 12th that it has developed a core converter power equipment technology that facilitates the stable supply of renewable energy and long-distance power transmission.

As we enter the era of AI and carbon neutrality, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems that efficiently transmit large amounts of electricity over long distances are attracting significant attention.

In particular, the HVDC system is considered a technology that efficiently transports renewable energy generated in mountainous areas and coastal areas, such as solar and wind power, to urban areas.

In this process, the important device that performs alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power conversion is the 'converter station'.

On the other hand, renewable energy has the difficulty of causing instability in the power grid because its energy supply fluctuates greatly depending on weather conditions.

Therefore, in the power equipment industry, effective power By installing an 'Energy Storage System (ESS)' that absorbs and supplies power and a 'STATCOM (Reactive Power Compensation Device)' that absorbs and supplies reactive power, the grid voltage is maintained at a constant level and the stability of the power system is increased.

KERI's achievement is that it has developed, for the first time in Korea, the so-called 'Energy Storage Modular Multilevel Converter (EMMC)' technology that integrates ESS and STATCOM, which were previously separate, into a single device.

EMMC is a converter that stacks kilovolt (kV)-class sub-modules that include ESS, generating ultra-high-voltage DC voltage to effectively transmit renewable energy over long distances.

First, KERI designed the 'KERI High-Performance Control Platform (Control & Protection)' using FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) semiconductors to operate a total of 42 modules (3 phases, 14 each) identically and stably, thereby securing isochronism.

In addition, since the goal was to apply it to mobile substations rather than fixed ones, we also secured flexible system design technology so that EMCC can operate in any location.

In addition, the energy storage is designed to go beyond simple ESS functions and to perform the role of a 'super capacitor' with fast charging/discharging and high response speed (responsiveness).

Since then, KERI has confirmed the potential of the development technology through various verifications such as unit module tests, HILs (Hardware In the Loop Simulator)-based controller tests, valve (single phase) tests, and high/low pressure system tests, and recently, the Korea Electric Power Research Institute The verification was successfully completed at the Gochang Electric Power Test Center.

The research team plans to commercialize the product by promoting technology transfer to companies in the power equipment sector.

KERI Power Conversion System Research Center Director Jongpil Lee said, “It will secure stability and flexibility in high-voltage distribution power systems using renewable energy and greatly contribute to the national carbon neutral policy.” He also said, “It will be utilized as a control and drive device for high-voltage, large-capacity power conversion devices in various fields such as HVDC/MVDC systems, which will play an important role in future power grids, as well as e-mobility (railways, ships, aviation), and data centers for AI,” highlighting the ripple effect and significance of the achievement.

Meanwhile, KERI is a government-funded research institute affiliated with the National Research Council of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and ICT. This research was conducted as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 'New and Renewable Energy Core Technology Development Project' and 'Renewable Energy Power System Linked Large-Capacity High-Voltage Modular ESS Technology Development Project'.