COMBINED AC/DC TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS – BENEFITS AND PROSPECTS OF INNOVATIVE MULTILEVEL VSC TECHNOLOGIES

Power markets are undergoing a substantial transformation all over the world. Decentralized power generation is gaining in importance, however making networks more complex. The Energy Chain is on its way to become a multi-layered system with a lot of new participants – the Power Matrix. It reflects the power grid of the future, which must be sustainable, cost-efficient and secure at the same time. Regenerative Energy Sources (RES) are connected at almost all voltage levels and the need for grid enhancement is rising [1]. Innovative solutions involving power electronics with HVDC (High- Voltage Direct Current) have the potential to cope with these challenges. The strategy for the development of large power grids go clearly in the direction of hybrid systems with integrated AC/DC…