LS Electric is teaming up with global power infrastructure company GE Vernova to establish a joint venture focused on voltage-source HVDC technology, aiming to penetrate the next-generation power grid market. This collaboration comes as the domestic HVDC market expands, driven by large-scale power grid projects such as the government-led West Coast Energy Highway.
On August 25, LS Electric announced that it signed a strategic cooperation agreement with GE Vernova for the establishment of the joint venture during the CIGRE 2026 exhibition in Paris, France. The joint venture will be named 'Grid X Technology,' reflecting its commitment to enhancing the reliability, integration, and exchange of power grids.
The two companies plan to collaborate on the domestic voltage-source HVDC market, focusing on the supply of key equipment and joint execution of HVDC projects in South Korea. They also intend to develop joint solutions and business strategies, with an eye toward establishing a cooperative framework for entering the global HVDC market.
HVDC technology converts electricity generated at power plants into high-voltage direct current for long-distance transmission, which is then converted back to alternating current. Voltage-source HVDC technology allows for rapid control of power flow, making it suitable for integrating renewable energy and constructing large-scale power grids.
In South Korea, expanding the transmission network to send power from renewable energy sources concentrated in the Honam and West Coast regions to the metropolitan area has become a priority. The West Coast Energy Highway, also promoted by the government, aims to transmit large-scale renewable energy to the capital region, underscoring the importance of HVDC technology.
LS Electric highlights its experience in executing domestic HVDC projects as a competitive advantage. The company has supplied key equipment for the North Dangjin-Godeok HVDC project and is also providing major equipment for the East Coast-Metropolitan HVDC project.
LS Electric has established a significant production base in Busan, where it operates the largest HVDC manufacturing facility in South Korea. This facility supports an integrated production system capable of designing, manufacturing, and testing key equipment such as conversion transformers.
GE Vernova will contribute its global HVDC technology and project experience. The two companies aim to enhance their competitiveness in the domestic power grid market by combining their respective technologies and on-site execution capabilities.
Gu Ja-kyun, Chairman of LS Electric, stated, "This collaboration aims to combine world-class voltage-source HVDC technology with LS Electric's domestic project execution experience to build a more stable energy highway in South Korea. We will strengthen our competitiveness to lead in global HVDC technology and business."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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