HVDC Transmission and its Potential Application in Remote Communities: Current Practice and Future Trend
Xiaodong Liang, Mehdi Abbasipour
Abstract
High voltage direct current (HVdc) transmission systems play an essential role in our modern power grids, not only providing bulk power transmission and asynchronous ac connection, but also enabling renewable energy integration into power grids. Renewable energy integration through HVdc transmission systems leads to the creation of multiterminal HVdc (MT-HVdc) grids. Recently, the idea of electrifying remote communities by HVdc transmission systems has emerged, and multi-terminal small-scale HVdc grids have been investigated in such applications. Despite numerous applications and significant potential of HVdc transmission systems, various technical and economic challenges in utilizing these systems still persist. In this article, an extensive literature review is conducted on HVdc transmission systems, particularly focusing on their role in renewable energy integration, and their potential application in remote communities. Future research directions are also recommended.