India’s First Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) Based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) System.:
POWERGRID has fully commissioned India’s First Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) System.
- It has commissioned Monopole-I of the 2000 Mega-Watt (MW), Pugalur (Tamil Nadu) – Thrissur (Kerala) Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) System.
- This Project strengthens the power system of Southern Region of our Country.
- Monopole-II of the project was inaugurated by PM Modi in February, 2021 and with the commissioning of Monopole-I, the project has attained its full capacity.
- The Pugalur-Thrissur HVDC system, costing Rs. 5070 crore, is a part of the Raigarh-Pugalur-Thrissur 6000 MW HVDC system and enables transfer of 2000 MW to Kerala through the VSC HVDC station at Thrissur.
Voltage Source Convertor (VSC)
- An HVDC converter converts electric power from high voltage alternating current (AC) to high-voltage direct current (HVDC), or vice versa.
- Electronic converters for HVDC are divided into two main categories.
- Line-commutated converters (HVDC classic) are made with electronic switches that can only be turned on.
- Voltage-sourced converters are made with switching devices that can be turned both on and off. It uses transistors, usually the Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
- The VSC technology significantly reduces the land requirement compared to the conventional HVDC systems and is particularly suitable for areas, where land is scarce.
- It also facilitates development of smart grid and improves system resilience under various operating conditions.
- The state-of-the-art VSC Technology has been brought to India for the first time by POWERGRID through this Project.
