Photograph) Kim Hyung-won, head of LS Cable & System's Energy/Construction Division (right), and Park Yong-hwan, head of the High Power Evaluation Division at the  Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) headquarters in Changwon, Gyeongnam


■ Agreement signed with KERI for long-term use of Changwon HVDC test site
■ Securing testing facilities considered key to competitiveness as certification demand increases
■ Experience in carrying out all HVDC projects in Korea becomes driving force behind K-grid export strategy

As the global order volume for LS Cable & System's ultra-high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission business now exceeds KRW 3 trillion, the company has begun to secure testing infrastructure to respond to the rapidly increasing demand for quality certification.

LS Cable & System announced on the 1st that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) for long-term use of the HVDC test site in Changwon, Gyeongnam. 

Under the agreement, LS Cable & System can conduct quality and performance tests of 525 kV HVDC cable systems at the KERI test site until March 2027.

KERI, an internationally accredited testing agency that verifies the quality of power equipment, is a full member of the Short-circuit Testing Liaison (STL) and is recognized as an internationally credible organization.

HVDC technology enables the efficient transmission of large amounts of power over long distances, and is key infrastructure for offshore wind power and international power grid interconnection projects. In particular, HVDC cables are custom-made products designed according to customer requirements, and therefore project-specific quality and performance testing is essential.

As the demand for international certification testing rapidly increases, securing stable testing facilities has become a key to competitiveness.

In Korea, there are only a few institutions capable of conducting HVDC international standard tests, including KERI and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Through this agreement, LS Cable & System has secured a stable testing base and has also strengthened its global response capabilities.

“We have established a foundation to stably respond to the increasing test demand due to the increase in global orders,” said an official from LS Cable & System. “We also expect that this will provide a boost to K-grid exports.

LS Cable & System developed the first HVDC cable in Korea in 2007 and has won orders for all major domestic projects, including the Bukdangjin-Godeok Projects 1 & 2 and Jeju Projects 2 & 3. The company is pushing ahead with its global order intake, including by recently signing an eight-year framework contract with the UK's National Grid. 
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