Increasing the GB electricity transmission networks' power transfer capability between North and South — The Western HVDC Link

The paper highlights the main drivers for the Western Link HVDC project from the Transmission Owners' point of view, the main project milestones, the challenges as well as the proposed technical solution. On the technical side the focus is on the key operating and design parameters of the HVDC system. The HVDC converters will apply classic line commutated converter technology requiring harmonic filtering and reactive compensation. At Hunterston, the converter station reactive power compensation design is tailored to accommodate both the converter station and network requirements, with and without the operation of the local power station. A dynamic reactive power device features in this optimised design in the form of modern SVC applying VSC technology.