LS Cable & System announced on the 1st that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute to ensure the long-term use of the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) test facility in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. As the cumulative orders for HVDC surpassed 3 trillion won, the demand for quality certification surged, prompting the company to secure the testing infrastructure.
According to the agreement, LS Cable & System is expected to conduct quality and performance tests of the 525-kilovolt (kV) HVDC cable system at the KERI test facility until March 2027. KERI is an internationally recognized testing organization that verifies the quality of electrical equipment and is evaluated as an institution with international credibility through its status as a full member of the Short Circuit Testing Liaison (STL).
HVDC technology is capable of efficiently transmitting large amounts of electricity over long distances and is gaining attention as a key infrastructure for offshore wind power and interconnection projects between countries.
In particular, HVDC cables are custom-designed products that vary according to customer requirements, making project-specific quality and performance testing essential. Consequently, the demand for international certification testing is rapidly increasing, and securing stable testing facilities has emerged as a crucial element of competitive bidding.
Currently, institutions capable of conducting international standard HVDC tests in South Korea are limited to a few, including KERI and Korea Electric Power Corporation. LS Cable & System explains that this agreement has reliably secured the testing foundation and enhanced its global response capabilities.
A representative of LS Cable & System noted, "We have established a foundation to respond stably to testing demands resulting from the expansion of global orders," adding, "We expect this will also boost the K-Grid export strategy."