Zhangbei

With its groundbreaking capacity, the Zhangbei DC-grid will help to integrate massive amounts of renewable power in the heavily populated area around Beijing, capable of supplying around 9 million people with clean energy.

Hitachi Energy introduced the HVDC Light^® (VSC) technology to China in 2016 in order to meet the demands of the growing VSC-HVDC market. The need to implement HVDC Light^® to integrate renewable energy while improving grid reliability and controllability was growing.  

The Zhangbei DC-grid is a step-up in the ambition by Chinese authorities now introducing the world’s first four-station meshed HVDC voltage sourced converter grid operating at 500 kV and up to 4,500 MW. 

The system represents a breakthrough in power capacity and thus embodies a milestone in the potential capacity of future grids to integrate massive amounts of renewable power. The development of DC-grids that was first suggested by Hitachi Energy in the 90’s now reach a new level in China. The installation will demonstrate how HVDC enables our future grids based on renewable power mix. 

In the first phase of the Zhangbei DC-grid power will be transmitted between four interconnected regional stations, providing Beijing with 4,500 megawatts (MW) of clean wind power. Deliveries are balanced by pumped hydro storage to meet intermittent fluctuations in wind speed and load. This will strengthen the grid in the Beijing area and secure clean renewable power. 

Hitachi Energy supplies valves, wall bushings, transformer components, semiconductors, and high voltage capacitors to the project.