SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - South Korea's HD Hyundai Electric has joined forces with Hitachi Energy, a global leader in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, to take part in South Korea’s ambitious West Coast energy highway project, a key step in the nation’s push toward renewable energy integration.
The partnership was formalized on Thursday at the Korea-Sweden Sustainable Partnership Summit in Seoul, where Kim Young-gi, president of HD Hyundai Electric, and Niklas Persson, CEO of Power Solutions at Hitachi Energy, signed a strategic cooperation agreement.
Under the deal, the two companies will collaborate on developing and localizing HVDC technology — essential for long-distance, high-efficiency electricity transmission — to strengthen South Korea’s energy infrastructure and align with the government’s localization policy.
The agreement includes joint studies on contract models, project execution, and system components such as converters, transformers, and control systems.
The West Coast energy highway is designed to enhance grid stability and accommodate the growing share of renewable power.
Hitachi Energy has supplied more than 70 percent of related electricity transmission systems and completed South Korea’s first such project, connecting Wando and Jeju Island, in December 2023. HD Hyundai Electric contributed high-voltage transformers for that project.
HD Hyundai Electric plans to use its Ulsan plant as a dedicated production base for HVDC transformers. The company said the move will enhance its ability to compete in global energy markets and support the government’s goal of developing domestic expertise in core power technologies.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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