Taihan Cable & Solution wins first U.S. HVDC project

Taihan Cable & Solution announced on the 19th that it had been selected to supply cables for a 320 kV voltage-source HVDC project and a 500 kV HVAC project in the United States.

Ordered by U.S. power company LS Power Grid California, the projects are worth a total of KRW 90 billion. They aim to improve grid reliability in Northern California, particularly in Silicon Valley and San Jose, where power demand has surged as AI-related businesses and advanced IT companies have expanded.

The project marks Taihan Cable & Solution’s first entry into the U.S. HVDC (high-voltage direct current) market. HVDC transmits power by converting alternating current to direct current and is a key technology for large-scale, long-distance transmission.

The voltage-source HVDC system won by Taihan Cable & Solution is emerging as a global standard because it enables easier two-way power transmission and converter-station installation than current-source systems. It can also be used with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. In fact, transmission system operators (TSOs) in the United States and Europe are adopting voltage-source systems for many recent renewable-energy grid connection projects and cross-border grid interconnection initiatives, or supergrids.

Developing HVDC cable systems requires advanced technology, and only a small number of companies worldwide have successfully commercialized them. Taihan Cable & Solution has focused on strengthening its HVDC capabilities and became the first company in Korea to develop a 525 kV voltage-source HVDC cable system with a 3,000 sq. mm cross-sectional area and a rated operating temperature of 90°C. Having secured its first HVDC order, the company plans to actively pursue opportunities in a range of future projects in Korea and overseas.

Meanwhile, 500 kV HVAC (high-voltage alternating current) cable systems operate at the highest voltage currently available for commercial underground AC cables. Designated a National Core Technology, the system was developed and commercialized for the first time in Korea by Taihan Cable & Solution. With this contract, the company has now secured and completed every 500 kV project undertaken in the United States.

The result was driven in large part by the company’s proven competitiveness and technical capabilities across numerous U.S. projects. Anticipating growing demand to replace the country’s aging power grid, Taihan Cable & Solution has focused its sales efforts in the United States since 2017 and has consistently delivered strong results.

This year, the company has secured a record KRW 610 billion in new orders, including this project.