Paris, FRANCE and Seoul, SOUTH KOREA -- GE Grid Solutions announced it has completed an upgrade to one of two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links between the South Korean mainland and Jeju Island, allowing for more efficient bi-directional transfer of power, including renewable energy.

South Korea's first HVDC upgrade ever includes the first commercial application of Line Commutated Converter (LCC) valve technology, as well as an upgrade to the control system and cooling system, the company said in the press release.

The HVDC refurbishment was done withing the 24-month deadline set by the Korea's largest electric utility Korea Electric Power Corporation's (KEPCO's). Within this timeframe, the link continued to operate except for a small window of about three months.

Source: GE Grid Solutions