IEEE Energy2030

Atlanta, GA USA
17-18 November, 2008

AC Grid with Embedded VSC-HVDC for

Secure and Efficient Power Delivery
Jiuping Pan, Reynaldo Nuqui, Kailash Srivastava, Tomas Jonsson, Per Holmberg, Ying-Jiang Hafner

economics of bulk power transmission with HVDC together

Abstract- Increased bulk power transactions in competitive with its controllability make it an interesting alternative or
energy markets together with large scale integration of complement to ac transmission. Therefore, the strategies for
renewable energy sources are posing challenges to high-voltage future transmission infrastructure development go clearly in
transmission systems. Environmental constraints and energy
the direction of hybrid AC/DC grid structure.
efficiency requirements also have significant effects on future
transmission infrastructure development. This paper reviews the This paper reviews the recent development in HVDC
recent development in HVDC technologies and discusses the transmission technologies and discusses the needs of the
needs of the hybrid AC/DC grid structure for future power
systems with focus on VSC-HVDC applications in meshed ac
hybrid AC/DC grid structure for future power systems. The
grid. It has also been recognized that hybrid AC/DC transmission focus is on the benefits of embedded VSC-HVDC
system together with the wide area measurement system transmission systems in meshed ac grid for secure and
(WAMS) could effectively manage the overall power grid efficient power delivery. The paper also discusses how the
operation security and efficiency under uncertain supply and hybrid AC/DC transmission system together with the wide
demand conditions. area measurement system (WAMS) could effectively manage
the overall power grid operation security and efficiency.
Index Terms—Transmission expansion, security and efficiency
of power delivery system, HVDC transmission, VSC-HVDC,
wide area measurement system II. HVDC TECHNOLOGIES
Two basic converter technologies are used in modern
I. INTRODUCTION HVDC transmission systems [1]. These are classical line-

T HE electric power grid is experiencing increased

needs for enhanced bulk power transmission capability,
reliable integration of large-scale renewable energy sources,
commutated current source converters (CSCs) and self-
commutated voltage source converters (VSCs).
A. Classical HVDC Technologies
and more flexible power flow controllability. However, it has
The classical HVDC technique, introduced in the early
become a challenge to increase power delivery capability and
1950s, employs line-commutated CSCs with thyristor valves.
flexibility with conventional AC expansion options in meshed,
Such converters require a relatively strong synchronous
heavily loaded high voltage AC networks. A key constraint in
voltage source in order to operate. Figure 1 shows a classical
adding transmission capacity to existing AC grid is the
HVDC converter station with current source converters.
requirement to neutralize environmental impact - often
making overhead grid extensions impossible. AC expansion
options, both overhead and underground, are often limited by
voltage or transient instability problems, risk of increased
short circuit levels, impacts of unaccepted network loop flows.
As such, upgrading electric power grids with advanced
transmission technologies such as HVDC systems and FACTS
devices becomes more attractive in many cases to achieve the
needed capacity improvement while satisfying strict
environmental and technical requirements. The favorable

Jiuping Pan and Reynaldo Nuqui are with ABB Corporate Research,
Raleigh NC 27606 USA (e-mail: [email protected],
[email protected]).
Kailash Srivastava and Tomas Jonsson are with ABB Corporate Research,
72178 Vasteras, Sweden (e-mail: [email protected],
[email protected]).
Figure 1 HVDC station with current source converters
Per Holmberg and Ying Jiang-Hafner are with ABB Power Systems/DC, Today there are about 100 classical projects around the
Ludvika, Sweden (email: [email protected], ying-
[email protected]). world. Typically, a classical HVDC transmission has a power

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of more than 100 MW and many are in the 1,000-3,000 MW
range. One of the major efforts for classical HVDC today is Table 1 Reference list of HVDC Light®
the development of Ultra High Voltage DC Systems (±800
kV) to transport more power over longer distances. The
largest HVDC project so far, (6400 MW, ±800kV) is already
under construction in China. More such projects have been
planned in China and India as well as in Southern Africa and
Brazil [2].
One major reason for the increased interest in HVDC is
that more power can be transmitted more efficiently over long
distance, say over 1000-2500 km, than by ac lines. HVDC
systems can carry 2-5 times the capacity of an ac line of
similar voltage. As such the environmental impact of HVDC
is more favorable than ac lines because less right-of-way land
is needed. HVDC transmission has been widely used to Estlink 350 MW 105 km Connecting asynchronous
networks
2006

interconnect two ac systems where ac ties would not be NORD E.ON 1 400 MW 203 km Offshore wind power 2009
feasible because of system stability problems or different CAPRIVI LINK 300 MW 970 km (OH) Connecting weak AC 2009
nominal frequencies of the two systems. HVDC transmission networks

is also needed for underwater cables longer than 50 km where VALHALL 78 MW 292 km offshore electrification 2010

HVAC transmission is impractical because of the high

capacitances of the cable requiring intermediate compensation The most recently commissioned project is the Estlink
stations. With an HVDC system, the power flow can be Transmission System which operates at ±150 kV DC and is
controlled rapidly and accurately. rated at 350 MW of active power in either direction. The link
interconnects the national grids of Estonia and Finland,
B. VSC-HVDC Technologies enabling the exchange of electric power between the Baltic
VSC-HVDC is a transmission technology based on voltage States and the Nordel electric system for the first time. The
source converters (VSC) and insulated gate bipolar transistors NORD E.ON 1 project will interconnect the world largest
(IGBT). The converter operates with high frequency pulse offshore wind park in Germany by 2009, rated at 400MW,
width modulation (PWM) and thus has the capability to over 200 km long sub-sea and underground cable system to
rapidly control both active and reactive power, independently the power grid. The CAPRIVI Link project will be
of each other, to keep the voltage and frequency stable. The constructed in Namibia by 2009 to connect two parts of the
ABB product name of VSC-HVDC is HVDC-Light [3]. The country’s power grid and strengthen electricity networks in
maximum power of bipole HVDC Light® is 1200 MW with southern Africa. The two networks are very weak and the
cables and 2400 MW with overhead lines [2]. Figure 2 shows HVDC Light® technology will help stabilize them. This
a HVDC Light® converter station. project extends the voltage for HVDC Light® to 350 kilovolts
(kV) and marks the first time the technology will be used for
long overhead transmission lines.

C. Comparison of Classical and VSC-HVDC

Classical HVDC and VSC-HVDC can both be used for the
following typical applications:
• Long-distance bulk power transmission
• Underground and submarine cable transmission
• Interconnection of asynchronous networks
New converter designs have significantly extended the
range of applications of HVDC transmission. In particular,
self-commutation, dynamic voltage control, and black-start
Figure 2 HVDC Station with voltage source converters capability allow compact VSC-HVDC transmission to serve
isolated loads on islands or offshore production platforms
VSC-HVDC systems can transmit power underground and
over long-distance submarine cables. Table 2 summarizes the
underwater over long distances. It offers numerous
main characteristics of the classical HVDC and VSC-HVDC
environmental benefits, including “invisible” power lines,
technologies [4].
neutral electromagnetic fields, oil-free cables and compact
converter stations. Table 1 shows the eight HVDC Light®
installations that have been in commercial operation.

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Table 2 Comparison of classical HVDC and VSC-HVDC allows the System Operators to utilize more economic and less
Attributes Classical HVDC VSC-HVDC pollutant generation resources and implement effective
Converter Thyristor valve, Transistor valve congestion management strategies.
technology grid commutation (IGBT), self
commutation Fast Response to Disturbances – Fast control of active and
Max converter 6400 MW, ±800 1200 MW, ±320 reactive power of VSC-HVDC systems can improve power
rating at present kV (overhead line) kV (cable) grid dynamic performance under disturbances. For example, if
Relative size 4 1 a severe disturbance threatens system transient stability, fast
Typical delivery 36 months 24 months power run-back and even instant power reversal control
time functions can be used to help maintain synchronized power
Active power flow Continuous ±0.1Pr Continuous 0 to grid operation. VSC-HVDC systems can also provide
control to ±Pr (Due to the ±Pr effective damping to mitigate electromechanical oscillations
change of polarity, by active and reactive power modulation.
normally changing Multiterminal Configurations – Another advantage is that
the power
the power direction is changed by changing the direction of
direction takes
the current and not by changing the polarity of the dc voltage.
some time, which
This makes it easier to build VSC-HVDC systems of more
is not the case for
VSC-HVDC) than a few terminals. These terminals can be connected to
Reactive power Reactive power No reactive different points in the same ac network or to different ac
demand demand = 50% power demand networks. The resulting dc grids can be radial, meshed or a
power transfer combination of both. Multiterminal VSC-HVDC systems are
Reactive power Discontinuous Continuous particularly attractive for integration of large-scale renewable
compensation & control (Switched control (PWM energy sources such as offshore wind farms and for
control shunt banks) built-in in reinforcement of interconnected regional ac grids.
converter
control) B. Prospective Applications
Independent No Yes In the following, a number of existing and likely future
control of active applications of VSC-HVDC in meshed ac grid are discussed.
& reactive power
Scheduled Typically < 1% Typically < 0,5% 1) Network Interconnections
maintenance In recent years, due to increased volumes of bulk power
transactions in competitive energy markets, some regional
Typical system 2.5 - 4.5 % 4-6% network tie lines are frequently fully loaded and thus restrict
losses the economic power transfer between adjacent regions.
Multiterminal Complex, limited Simple, no Regional interconnections enhanced through VCS-HVDC
configuration to 3 terminals limitations links can effectively improve the transfer capability between
regional networks. In addition, precise power flow control of
dc links makes the settlement of pricing power transfers,
III. AC GRID WITH EMBEDDED VSC-HVDC billing customers, and preventing free riders become
VSC-HVDC transmission technologies provide necessary uncomplicated tasks. VSC-HVDC system can also be
features for embedded applications in meshed ac grids [5]. operated as a merchant transmission facility, similar to a
The resulting hybrid AC/DC grid structure enables more merchant generator. One example is the Murry-link project
efficient congestion management, reliable integration of large- which benefits both South Australia and Victoria by enabling
scale renewable energy sources, and improved system electricity trading in Australia’s deregulating power market.
dynamic response against disturbances. Another example is the Estlink project which enables the
exchange of electric power between the national grids of
A. Technology Advantages Estonia and Finland.
The most attractive technical advantages of VSC-HVDC
2) Bottleneck Mitigations
systems for embedded applications in ac grid are power flow
Transmission congestion occurs when actual or scheduled
control flexibility, fast response to disturbances and feasible
flows of electricity across a portion of network are restricted
multiterminal configurations.
below desired levels either by physical capacity or by system
Power Flow Control Flexibility – The power flow on the operational security restrictions. Transmission bottlenecks
VSC-HVDC systems can be optimally scheduled based on have resulted in consumers of some areas paying higher prices
system economics and security requirements. It is also feasible for electricity and system reliability concerns. In many cases,
to dispatch VSC-HVDC systems in real-time power grid the capacity of ac lines comprising the bottleneck is not fully
operations. Such increased power flow control flexibility utilized because of stability concerns. VSC-HVDC system

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may be a desirable solution in comparison with ac short circuit levels. The feasibility of direct dc infeed to large
alternatives. It has been shown in system studies that the urban areas has been discussed in [8]. Figure 4 shows the two
transfer capability of those voltage or transient stability envisioned city infeed schemes with VSC-HVDC system. In
constrained bottlenecks can be increased by more than the one scheme, point-to-point or multiterminal VSC-HVDC
rating of the VSC-HVDC system due to effective damping system directly deliver power to in-city load pockets. Another
control and dynamic voltage support [6]. For parallel AC/DC scheme is equivalent to closing an open loop of ac circuit
transmission schemes, full power flow controllability of VSC- which gives extended system without increasing the short
HVDC system allows optimized power sharing between ac circuit power. Figure 5 shows a version of multiterminal
lines and dc link. VSC-HVDC network that is embedded in the existing city
power grid. Power is fed from transmission grid radially from
3) Integration of Renewable Energy Sources
different sources and distributed through a dc-cable ring to the
With several GWs of offshore wind generation now in the
inverter stations located at different load pockets.
advanced stages of planning, particularly in Europe, the
demand for reliable and robust power transmission to shore is
now a fact. In this case, VSC-HVDC is the most appropriate
duo to compact converter station and flexible voltage and
frequency control [2, 7]. Figure 3 shows the converter station
at sea in the Nord E.ON 1project where 400 MW wind power
will be transmitted from the North Sea to Northern Germany,
a distance of 200 km. VSC-HVDC transmission allows
efficient use of long-distance land or submarine cables.

Figure 4 City infeed with VSC-HVDC

Figure 3 Converter station for offshore wind generation

The following summarizes the main features of VSC-

HVDC transmission for large-scale offshore wind power
evacuation:
• VSC-HVDC can fully cope with grid code.
• WTGs no longer need to be designed for fulfilling the Figure 5 DC network embedded in existing city grid
grid code, and the optimization can focus on cost,
efficiency and robustness. 5) DC Segmented Grid
• VSC-HVDC can separate the windfarm from the AC One vision of future application of VSC-HVDC system in
network. Faults in the AC grid will not give stress or bulk power system is called “DC Segmented Grid” as
disturbances on wind turbine, and faults in the windfarm described in [9]. The basic idea is to decompose
will not affect the AC network. interconnected large interregional power system into sets of
• VSC-HVDC provides voltage and frequency control, and asynchronously operated sectors interconnected exclusively
desired inertia can be emulated to enhance the stability of by dc links. The main argument for promoting dc segmented
the AC network.
grid is the increased difficulties with existing large ac grids
such as risk of widespread disturbances, transfer capability
4) DC Infeed to Large Urban Areas
limitations, and expansion restrictions. Technical feasibility
Majority of large city power grids are characterized by high
study has shown improved system reliability and market
load densities, strict requirements for reliability and power
operations by taking advantages of both ac and dc
quality, and excessive reliance on power import from outside
technologies.
sources. Increasing power delivery to large urban areas with
ac expansion options is often limited by the risk of increased

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 IV. WAMS ENHANCED VSC-HVDC SYSTEMS damping via injecting modulated voltage signals in the
converter voltage control circuit. The feedback signal could
A. WAMS Enabled VSC-HVDC Control come from any desired ac quantity based on observability
A broad range of application control functions can be analysis. Logically, both P and Q could be modulated
implemented in VSC-HVDC systems for enhancement of ac concurrently to achieve a more effective means of damping
network steady-state and dynamic performance. These control oscillations. Embedded VSC-HVDC could damp both local
functions are shown in Figure 6 by three categories along the and inter-area modes of oscillations. In the latter, the
time line for a disturbance that is pre-disturbance, transient feedback signal could come from remote synchrophasor
and post-disturbance. measurements of bus voltage angles from a wide area
measurement system such as depicted in Figure 8.

Figure 6 Application control functions of VSC-HVDC

Wide area measurement systems could enhance the Figure 8 WAMS enabled control for oscillation damping
performance of VSC-HVDC systems by providing the
necessary remote measurements to initiate effective control
for transfer capability improvement and against disturbances C. WAMS Enabled Control for Maximum Power Transfer
such as power oscillations. A wide area measurement system, A system with voltage stability limits along a transmission
as shown in Figure 7, consists of phasor measurement units corridor experience congestion due to accompanying
deployed at geographically dispersed locations in the system transmission constraint. Embedded VSC-HVDC provides
[10]. The phasors are collected and aligned by a phasor data countermeasures for both transient and longer term voltage
concentrator. WAMS applications range from monitoring instability mechanisms. Fast modulation of its reactive power
such as state estimation and voltage security monitoring to could provide the VAR requirements for the transient
wide area control such as power oscillations damping. problem. In the longer term instability, where tap-changers,
excitation system responses come into play, VSC-HVDC can
help prevent voltage collapse via gradual P and Q modulation,
including reducing active power to increase reactive power
nal

PMU PMU
capability if needed. By operating the converter as an SVC or
Si g

STATCOM during and after the fault, dynamic voltage

in g
ni z

stabilization can be enhanced and voltage variations can be

hro
y nc

minimized. This greatly helps power system recovery from a

SS
GP

disturbance and reduces impacts on sensitive loads.

M
icr
ow
av
Control eC
om
Center m
PMU
PMU

Figure 7 A wide area measurement system

B. WAMS Enabled Control for Oscillation Damping

VSC-HVDC system could superimpose modulated active
power to damp oscillations in the ac system. A feedback
signal such as from active power flow measurement could be
used to drive a supplementary damping control scheme.
Alternatively, one can take advantage of the SVC-like Figure 9 WAMS enabled control for maximum loadability
characteristic of the converter stations and accomplish

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 Figure 9 shows an example transmission corridor VII. BIOGRAPHIES
configuration with VSC-HVDC infeed into a weak load area Jiuping Pan received his B.S. and M.S. in Electric Power Engineering from
constrained by loadability limits. A direct Q injection or Shandong University, China and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from
Virginia Tech, USA. He is currently a Principal Scientist with ABB US
voltage control from VSC-HVDC will increase real power Corporate Research Center. Prior to joining ABB, He was with the faculty of
into the area by providing local reactive power support. Electric Power Engineering Department of Shandong University in China.
From 1993 to 1995, He was a visiting scholar at the Center of Energy and
Similarly, the same effect could be achieved by modulating Global Environment at Virginia Tech USA. His expertise includes power
the local voltage. Alternatively, increased corridor transfer system modeling, HVDC transmission, transmission planning, T&D asset
capability could be achieved by modulating both P and Q management, energy market simulation studies.

injections from the VSC-HVDC. To realize this maximum Reynaldo F. Nuqui received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from
Virginia Tech in 2001. He graduated from the University of the Philippines
power transfer scheme requires measurement of the bus with BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering. He is a Principal Scientist
voltage angle difference by phasor measurement units in bus 1 with ABB US Corporate Research Center in Raleigh, NC USA. Previously, he
and bus 2. Any status change in the ac transmission infeed was employed by the National Power Corporation in several positions related
to transmission planning, system operations and protection. His research
would automatically be reflected as a change in the phasor
interests are synchronized phasor measurements, High Voltage Direct Current
angle. With this angle as reference point, we could adjust P Transmission, protection, voltage stability, and state estimation. Dr. Nuqui is
and Q to achieve maximum power transfer. a member of the IEEE Power Engineering Society and the North American
Synchrophasor Initiative Working Group.
Kailash Srivastava was born at Fatehpur in India, on October 3, 1962. He
V. CONCLUSIONS graduated in Electrical Engineering from MMM Engineering College
VSC-HVDC technology is now emerging as a robust and Gorakhpur (India) in 1983 He did his MTech and PhD in Power Systems from
IIT Kanpur (India) in 1986 and 1995 respectively. He worked in India and
economical alternative for future transmission grid expansion. Italy for different companies before joining ABB Corporate Research Sweden
In particular, embedded VSC-HVDC applications, together where he has been working for past 11 years.
with the wide area measurement system, in meshed AC grids Tomas Jonsson received his M. Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the
could significantly improve overall system performance, Lund Institute of Technology in 1987. He has been employed by ABB in
enabling smart operation of transmission grids with improved Ludvika and Västerås since 1988. From the year 1988 to 1993 he was working
with control system design, system studies and commissioning related to
security and efficiency. VSC-HVDC transmission also offers HVDC systems. Between 1993 and 1999, he worked with development of
a superior solution for many challenging technical issues capacitor commutated and voltage source converters for HVDC. Since 1999,
associated with integration of large-scale renewable energy he has been employed at ABB Corporate Research as HVDC expert and
sources such as offshore wind power. The technology is under project leader for power electronic development for HVDC and FACTS
applications.
continuous development rapidly into higher voltage, higher
power and more flexibility. Per Holmberg received his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the
Technical University of Chalmers, Sweden in 1986. Since then he has been
working for ABB Power Systems/HVDC with control design, digital
VI. REFERENCES simulation, technical coordination and commissioning of HVDC projects. In
[1] Mikael P. Bahrman and Brian .K. Johnson, “The ABCs of HVDC 2007 he was appointed Specialist in the field Power System Analysis and
Transmission Technologies”, IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Control of HVDC Systems. He is presently working with dynamic
March-April 2007. performance studies for both conventional HVDC and HVDC Light®.
[2] Gunnar Asplund, “Electric Transmission System in Change”, Key Notes, Ying Jiang-Hafner received her B. Sc. And M. Sc. Degrees in electrical
IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference, June 2008, Rhodes, engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China,
Greece, respectively in 1984 and 1987. She received Ph. D. Degree in electrical
[3] It’s time to connect – Technical description of HVDC Light® engineering from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) of Sweden in 1998.
technology, ABB Power Technologies AB, 2006. She joined the System Development Department of ABB Power System in
(http://www.abb.com/hvdc). Sweden in 1998. She has been involved in the development and design of
[4] Jochen Kreusel, “Integrated AC/DC Transmission Systems – Benefits of control system for HVDC Light since she joined ABB. She is now a senior
Power Electronics for Security and Sustainability of Power Supply”, specialist in the technical area of HVDC Light control.
Power System Computation Conference, July 2008, Glasgow, UK.
[5] Jiuping Pan, Reynaldo Nuqui, Le Tang and Per Holmberg, “VSC-HVDC
Control and Application in Meshed AC Networks”, Panel Paper, IEEE
PES General Meeting, July 2008, Chicago, USA.
[6] Stefan G Johansson, Gunnar Asplund, Erik Jansson, Roberto Rudervall,
“Power System Stability Benefits with VSC DC-Transmission Systems”,
CIGRE Conference, 2004, Paris, France.
[7] Peter Sandeberg and Lars Stendius, “Large scale Offshore Wind Power
Energy evacuation by HVDC Light®”, European Wind Energy
Conference & Exhibition, March-April 2008, Brussels Belgium.
[8] Bjorn Jacobson, Paulo Fischer de Toledo, and Gunnar Asplund, “City
Infeed with HVDC Light® and Extruded Cables, CEPSI, November
2006, Mumbai, India.
[9] Harrison Clark, Abdel-Aty Edris, Mohamed EI-Gasseir, Ken Epp,
Andrew Isaacs, and Dennis Woodford, Softening the Blow of
Disturbances, IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2008.
[10] Reynaldo. F. Nuqui, “State Estimation and Voltage Security Monitoring
Using Synchronized Phasor Measurements”, PhD Dissertation,
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA 2001.

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