ABB & Hitachi to Form Strategic Power Grid Partnership for HVDC in Japan

TOKYO and ZURICH (Dec. 16, 2014) – ABB and Hitachi announced an agreement to form a joint venture for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system solutions in Japan. The new entity, to be based in Tokyo, will be responsible for the design, engineering, supply and after-sales services related to the DC system of HVDC projects, bringing ABB's latest technologies to the Japanese market where Hitachi will be the prime contractor. Hitachi and ABB will take equity interests of 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively. This is the first step of a strategic partnership between the two companies to contribute to the evolution of Japan’s power network. Hitachi and ABB will explore further strengthening of the relationship and address opportunities to widen the scope for future collaboration. The joint venture is expected to commence operations in the coming months, subject to the necessary approvals and statutory procedures. “Since the first development in the 1970s, Hitachi has participated in every HVDC project in Japan and has continued to underpin the stabilization of the electricity grid,” said Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman & CEO of Hitachi, Ltd. “I am confident that the establishment of a new company combining the strengths of Hitachi and ABB will provide a framework for the timely provision of the new technologies required by the Japanese HVDC market. By enhancing and expanding the HVDC business through its partnership with ABB, which has a strong performance record in the global market, Hitachi will continue to contribute to the stabilization of Japan's electric power grid.” HVDC is a technology used for transmitting electricity between two grid systems. The supply side power is converted from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) before being transmitted and is then converted back to AC in the receiving system for use. The system is ideal for long-distance transmission due to the technology's ability to minimize electricity losses and to its lower space requirements and construction costs. It is also well-suited for interconnections between two different frequencies. “ABB pioneered HVDC 60 years ago and has continually pushed the boundaries of this technology,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB. “Our presence across half the world's installed base and our capability to develop and manufacture all major components of the HVDC value chain in-house have put us in a leading position in the industry. We are proud to enter into this partnership with Hitachi, with a solid reputation and extensive, 100-year experience in the Japanese market. Together we can build on our complementary strengths to play our part in the evolution of Japan's power infrastructure.” The global HVDC market has seen many projects using line-commutated converter technology (LCC)*1 HVDC systems since the 1970s, while the development of voltage-source converter (VSC)*2 systems has advanced as a new technology since around 2000. In recent years, there has been a particular focus on using HVDC to connect renewable energy sources. This has seen an increase in VSC-HVDC transmission systems, which facilitate grid stabilization. The technology is ideal for long-distance underground and underwater power links and interconnections and is increasingly being deployed across a range of applications, including the integration of renewable energies from land-based and offshore wind farms, the mainland power supply to islands and offshore oil and gas platforms, city center in-feeds where space is a major constraint, and cross-border interconnections that often require subsea links. Its ability to comply with grid codes ensures robust network connections regardless of application. In Japan, nine HVDC projects were carried out up to 2006, all of them using the LCC type. Now, with the increasing introduction of renewable energy and innovation in electric power systems, demand for VSC-HVDC systems is expected to increase for applications such as wide-area power transmission grids and connection of offshore wind farms. Hitachi has participated in every HVDC project in Japan so far. In the Japanese market, which demands a high level of reliability, Hitachi has contributed—through technology development and project management—to the creation of HVDC systems that maintain high operation rates*3. ABB pioneered HVDC technology, putting into operation the world's first commercial link in Sweden in 1954 and was the first to introduce VSC technology (HVDC Light) in the 1990s. The company also holds many other world records in this technology. Over the years, ABB has been awarded around 100 HVDC projects representing a total installed capacity of more than 120,000 megawatts (MW), accounting for about half of the global installed base. ABB's HVDC Light solution leads the way in VSC technology; the company has delivered 14 of the 15 VSC links that have been commissioned worldwide. 1. LCC-HVDC*1: An HVDC system with AC/DC converter using power semiconductor devices that requires the passing current to be zero when off (a thyristor). This was the principal method used from the 1970s onward, and there are many examples in operation. The system configuration is simple, and the technology mature; however, its installation entails a large number of restrictions in regard to the power grid, necessitating grid stabilization, such as reactive power compensation measures, in some cases 2. VSC-HVDC*2: An HVDC system with AC/DC converter using power semiconductor devices that can be switched on and off at any time (IGBTs, etc.). There are fewer power grid restrictions for its installation, compared with LCC type, and it has considerable benefits for grid stabilization, for example with respect to supplying reactive power. Since it does not require any grid stabilization measures, it achieves a simpler overall configuration than LCC-HVDC systems. 3. Reported in “A Survey of the Reliability of HVDC Systems” by the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRÉ) and other sources. ABB is a provider of power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. Hitachi, Ltd. delivers innovations that answer society's challenges with a heavy focus on the Social Innovation Business, which includes infrastructure systems, information and telecommunication systems, power systems, construction machinery, high functional materials and components, automotive systems, health care and others.