A world-class test infrastructure for testing and validating the performance of power equipment in the field of ultra-high voltage direct current transmission (HVDC, High Voltage Direct Current), the next-generation power transmission technology, has been established in Korea. This is expected to resolve the inconvenience and security issues that domestic companies previously faced by having to rely on overseas test facilities.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), an internationally accredited testing and certification organization for power equipment, held a "HVDC Test Infrastructure Construction Project Completion Ceremony" at its Changwon headquarters on the 26th.

The event was attended by approximately 100 representatives from local governments, related organizations, and companies leading the project, including KERI President Kim Nam-gyun, Gyeongnam Province Vice Governor of Economy Kim Byeong-gyu, Changwon Special City Mayor Hong Nam-pyo, National Research Council of Science and Technology Chairman Kim Bok-chul, National Assembly Member Choi Hyung-doo (Masan-Happo District), and Ministry of Industry Policy Director Lee Yong-pil for Advanced Industry.

HVDC is a technology that converts large-capacity electrical power generated at power plants into high-voltage direct current and transmits it over long distances. Direct current transmission has very low transmission losses in the power supply process, maximizing energy efficiency, and allows long-distance transmission using cables, so restrictions on installation in urban areas are minimal. The generation of electromagnetic waves is very small, providing high social acceptance, which is also a major advantage. Additionally, HVDC is a technology specialized for transmitting power generated by renewable energy sources such as offshore wind farms.

For these reasons, HVDC systems are currently being prioritized for consideration in newly introduced power grids in global markets worldwide, and in Korea as well, HVDC-related projects are underway to send large quantities of power produced on the East Coast to the Seoul metropolitan area, the largest demand center, attracting significant interest in HVDC.

Since HVDC has not been extensively applied domestically yet, further research on the reliability and safety of related power equipment and facilities is necessary.

On the other hand, since Korea lacked specialized test infrastructure for verifying the performance of HVDC power equipment, domestic companies had no choice but to seek overseas test facilities for testing and certification. This resulted in problems such as economic burden, delivery delays, and leakage of core design technology overseas.

Recently, movement between countries has become difficult due to COVID-19, making testing even more challenging. To strengthen the export competitiveness of domestic companies in the fierce global market, specialized test infrastructure for HVDC power equipment was urgently needed.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry, Gyeongnam Province, Changwon City, and KERI joined forces to invest approximately 2 billion won in the project and have been promoting the "HVDC Test Infrastructure Construction Project" since June 2020, achieving completion after approximately three years. The infrastructure scale is 5,643 pyeong (18,622m²) in land area and 467 pyeong (1,540m²) in building area.

KERI expects that this test infrastructure will significantly contribute to rapidly supporting product development for domestic HVDC-related power equipment companies, enhancing technical capabilities, and strengthening export competitiveness.

Additionally, thousands of domestic and overseas experts are expected to visit Gyeongnam and Changwon annually for testing, and the resulting regional economic consumption activation effect is expected to be substantial.

KERI President Kim Nam-gyun stated, "Our institute has made significant contributions to domestic companies' overseas market development by ensuring that our research institute's test reports are recognized in global markets, based on world-class equipment and specialized personnel. This HVDC test infrastructure completion is a milestone for KERI's testing and certification to advance to the next level, and the economic and industrial ripple effects on the domestic power equipment sector will be very substantial."

With all equipment installation completed in the HVDC test building, KERI plans to complete equipment commissioning and internal usage procedures and begin full-scale testing and certification services from the fourth quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, KERI is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Science and ICT.