According to experts, compared to the country’s current alternating current systems, this technology has important stability and efficiency benefits, especially for transporting energy over long distances.
Power transmission is today a key player to achieve that Chile’s energy matrix comes from 80% of renewable energies by 2030 and that the country achieves its decarbonization plan. An important challenge, where the implementation of direct current technology (HVDC) provides clear benefits in terms of stability and efficiency compared to alternating current systems, which are used in Chile.
This technology has existed for years in Brazil, China, United States and United Kingdom due to its qualities to cover long distances. In Chile it will be implemented for the first time in the Kimal-Lo Aguirre transmission line.
Main benefits and advantages of the technology
Direct current will improve energy transmission capacity, increase the participation of renewable energies in the National Electric System as it is a technology much more resilient to climate change. Its infrastructure is designed to withstand temperatures above 35°C and to withstand unprecedented phenomena in the national territory, such as large-scale hurricane-force winds, temperature increases, seismic contingencies and higher rainfall.
Likewise, it allows a better integration of renewable energies since “thanks to its capacity to efficiently manage the flow of energy between terminals, it facilitates the integration of diverse sources such as solar or wind, which vary in their availability, adjusting the quantities injected and compensating their inherent fluctuations”, explained Mauricio Restrepo, Engineering and Construction Manager of Conexión EECC, the company in charge of the development of the Kimal-Lo Aguirre project.
In terms of safety, Restrepo assures, HVDC stands out for being bidirectional, which makes it possible to transport electricity in both directions, taking advantage of different energy sources depending on the time of day. “For example, it can transport solar energy during the day and wind or hydro energy during the night, which optimizes supply and reduces dependence on a single source”.
From an environmental point of view, direct current contributes to reducing the impact on biodiversity, since its infrastructure requires less space, which minimizes the disturbance of local flora and fauna. In addition, its implementation requires fewer towers and cables, reducing land occupation and interference with nearby communities.
Another strategic advantage of the technology is that it facilitates international interconnections since “thanks to its capacity to connect asynchronous electrical grids, direct current opens up the possibility of integrating Chile with other Latin American countries, which will optimize the use of renewable sources and reduce energy costs in the region”, added Johny Montaña, Director of the Electrical Engineering Department of the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.
For Montaña, the implementation of this technology in Chile will not only allow us to be more energy efficient, but will also allow us to “train a specialized workforce, capable of applying their experience in future projects and export Chilean talent to other regions of the world”.
