GE Vernova’s Electrification business has announced a research and development contract with four German Transmission System Operators (TSOs): TenneT TSO, 50Hertz Transmission, Amprion, and Transnet BW.
The agreement focuses on designing and engineering a Multi-Terminal/Multi-Hub High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connection solution, a crucial step towards establishing a high voltage grid for Germany and Europe’s energy transition.
Johan Bindele, head of Grid Systems Integration at GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business, highlighted the significance of GE Vernova’s technology for the efficient integration of renewable energy and the future of the energy transition.
HVDC technology is renowned for its efficiency in transmitting bulk power over long distances, essential for integrating renewable wind and solar energy into the grid. Currently, HVDC systems are point-to-point and bi-directional, with one HVDC converter station at each end.
The new generation of multi-terminal HVDC technology, developed by GE Vernova in partnership with the German TSOs, aims to create a system where multiple terminals can interconnect, enabling electricity to travel efficiently across a highly efficient electron highway.
The R&D contract includes the conceptualization, design, and development of enabling technologies, including a new-to-market 525 kV Direct Current Circuit Breaker (DCCB). This technology will allow TSOs to trip and isolate faults in the HVDC system. GE Vernova is currently in the development phase of the DCCB, which is planned to become part of its market offer upon completion.
The R&D award covers an 18-month design phase through December 2025, with the implementation phase scheduled to begin in 2026 and commercial deployment expected by 2029. The project will be led by GE Grid in Berlin, with engineering conducted at GE Vernova’s HVDC facility in Stafford, UK.