Centre Manche 1

Hitachi Energy has been selected to supply its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) Light® systems to connect the Centre Manche 1 offshore wind farms at AO4 and AO8 to the mainland transmission network at Menuel.

The HVDC systems, with the transmission capacity of 1,250 MW, will facilitate power transfer to the mainland. The offshore HVDC converter station will turn the generated wind power from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and transmit to shore where a second converter station will turn the power back to AC and integrate it into the AC grid. By using HVDC, power losses are minimized meaning more power reaches the end consumer. HVDC also increases reliability in the AC grid due to the uniquely flexible and controllable features of the system. The system can also support the offshore wind farm, when needed.

With this pioneering HVDC technology, Hitachi Energy continues to shape the offshore power landscape, enabling the efficient transmission and dynamic integration of distant offshore wind power to the onshore grid.

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology more than 70 years ago. HVDC Light, invented by Hitachi Energy based on Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) technology, is a highly dynamic and efficient alternative to alternating current for transmitting large amounts of electricity with higher efficiency, over longer distances, and with lower electrical losses.