Hitachi Energy has signed contracts, totalling over EUR 2 billion, with German transmission system operator (TSO) Amprion to deliver four converter stations for two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links that will support Germany’s clean energy transition.
The orders follow the capacity reservation agreement signed in September 2023, under which Hitachi Energy was picked as the preferred supplier for four converter stations to be built at the grid connection points in Heide, Wilhelmshaven, Polsum, and Hamm.
Under the contracts, Hitachi Energy will supply, install, and commission two HVDC Light converter systems capable of transmitting 2 GW of power.
The HVDC links, known as V48 and V49, form Korridor B. The high-power transmission highway comprises two new underground cable connections, each with two converter stations, which transport electricity from the North Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony to the Ruhr region.
Each underground cable system will transmit 2 GW, enough to provide power to four million people.
“Grids are crucial to Germany’s clean energy transition. Without the grid capacity to move wind energy from the north to areas that are still highly reliant on fossil fuels in the south and west, the country cannot achieve decarbonization within the targeted timeframe,” said Niklas Persson , Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Business Unit Grid Integration.
If needed, the transmission capacity can be increased by another 4 GW via additionally laid empty lines.
The converters will operate at 525 kV, the voltage level adopted as the standard for the latest generation of HVDC links. The converter stations are scheduled to start operation in early 2030.
“With Korridor B, we will make an important contribution to the security of supply in Germany and Europe in the future. The project will transport green electricity to millions of households and industry in North Rhine-Westphalia from as early as the beginning of the 2030s,” said Hendrik Neumann , CTO of Amprion.
In terms of other news coming from Hitachi Energy, the company recently won a contract from ScottishPower Renewables to provide onshore and offshore grid connection and power quality solutions for the East Anglia Two offshore wind farm in the UK.