According to a new report, US electric grid operators are falling behind their global counterparts when it comes to deploying high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines. This is concerning because there is a pressing need to expand the nation’s transmission capacity in order to efficiently transport low-cost renewable power over long distances, meet the growing demand for electricity, and ensure a reliable supply. The report, titled “The Operational and Market Benefits of HVDC to System Operators”, provides nine recommendations to overcome the challenges that HVDC technology faces in the US. Johannes Pfeifenberger, the principal with The Brattle Group and co-author of the report, emphasizes the enormous opportunity that HVDC technologies present for upgrading and expanding the aging transmission system in the US. However, immediate action is required to address the barriers that are currently hindering the widespread adoption of this technology domestically.
