1. Start of Operations of Chubu Power Grid Hida Converter Station Hida-Shinano Frequency Conversion Facility
The Hida-Shinano frequency conversion facility at Hida converter station run by Chubu Electric Power Grid Co., Inc., which is the first interconnection project between the Tokyo and Chubu systems, began operations in March 2021. Thanks to a collaboration system that enabled close coordination with the customer, the project was completed without issues essentially 24 months of work after the start of installation in August 2018 (excluding a construction pause).
This facility was constructed with the goal of providing a stable power supply, thereby preventing in advance the type of confusion that can occur when there is not enough power as happened during the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. It contributes to the stabilization of the power supply between the Tokyo and Chubu regions using high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, and serves a vital role in enabling electricity transactions between east and west Japan during normal times. The facility offers the following features:
- Power interchange capacity of 900 MW, and a direct current line voltage of 200 kV
- Direct current power transmission equipment connected to alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) conversion equipment with DC aerial power transmission lines totaling 89 km in length
- First domestic use of foreign-manufactured air-insulated system filter in power AC/DC conversion equipment (currently manufactured by Hitachi Energy)
- System designed to withstand difficult weather conditions, including an outside air temperature between −30°and +35°C, an elevation of 1,085 m, and heavy snowfall in an area with 200 cm of snow coverage
Hitachi is positioning HVDC as one of its main areas of focus in the energy business, and in 2019 received an order for the frequency conversion equipment using self-commutating HVDC technology in the Chubu Power Grid Higashi Shimizu Substation currently under construction. Hitachi will keep contributing to the achievement of a decarbonized society by responding to needs for power system interconnection equipment as power system interconnections are strengthened both domestically and internationally, and renewable energy usage increases.