The power grids of the future will face a wide range of challenges that require a rapid expansion of the infrastructure. A total of 7,500 kilometers will have to be optimized, strengthened, or newly built in the German transmission network over the next few years.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission links are playing a key role here, such as SuedLink, the new wind power line, that will enable low-loss energy transport over long distances and the integration of wind power from the North and solar power from the South of Germany into the transmission grid. Siemens Energy will supply the converters and carry out the detailed and site-specific planning of the facilities in the coming months together with the project owners, the transmission grid operators TenneT and TransnetBW, and further project members.
At the end points of the approx. 700-kilometer power link, converter stations are required that can convert direct current into alternating current and alternating current into direct current. The SuedLink converters will be designed as self-commutated voltage-sourced converters in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) arrangement with a rated DC voltage of ±525 kilovolts. In addition to active power, the systems can also independently control reactive power. This allows them to respond flexibly to fluctuations in generation and consumption in the grid and enables the low-loss transport of up to two gigawatts of power in both directions.
