70 years of HVDC:
How power electronics are shaping the future of energy

This year marks the 70th anniversary of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology, a transformative force that has revolutionized power transmission and enabled the integration of renewable energy on a global scale. At Power Electronics & Energy Days in Stockholm, Hitachi Energy celebrates this milestone while highlighting the critical role of power electronics in shaping the future of energy.

HVDC technology has evolved over seven decades to become the cornerstone of efficient, long-distance electricity transmission today. Pioneered by Hitachi Energy in 1954, the company has integrated more than 150-gigawatts (GW) of HVDC links around the world into the power system. Its wide range of applications highlights its potential to transform the global energy landscape toward greater interconnectivity. The technology has evolved from traditional point-to-point connections into advanced multiterminal and multipurpose networks, promising the realization of the vision of meshed offshore grids.

Today, power electronics solutions, including HVDC, play an essential role in integrating bulk renewable energy, decarbonizing power systems, and enhancing grid resilience and flexibility. As the demand for renewable energy surges, power electronics, such as STATCOM, Enhanced-STATCOM and energy storage solutions, coupled with interconnectors between regions and countries, ensure grid security and reliability as both system voltage and frequency can be stabilized effectively in varying weather conditions.

At this year’s Power Electronics & Energy Days, Hitachi Energy showcases its cutting-edge power electronics solutions, designed to meet the challenges of modern grids, which include the increased penetration of renewables, decentralization of power generation as well as the electrification and decarbonization of traditional fossil-based industries. The event emphasizes that power electronics are not just a part of the future - they are pivotal in driving today’s energy transition, ensuring that countries worldwide can meet their Net-Zero targets and build sustainable energy infrastructures.

Bringing together key players in the energy transition, the event advocates for more renewables and stresses that the technology needed for the energy transition is available now, challenging countries and stakeholders to prioritize their adoption and warning against falling behind in the evolution of the energy system.