VAN - Back-to-Back Converter Station

The Van back-to-back HVDC project in Türkiye is a significant development in the country's power infrastructure. This project, which began operation on November 1, 2022, after a 28-day trial period, represents Türkiye's first DC transmission project.

Project Specifications

The Van back-to-back converter station has a rated DC voltage of ± 100 kV and a rated transmission power of 600MW. It utilizes Line Commutated Converter (LLC) technology with a single-block 12-pulse 600MW converter.

Location and Purpose

The back-to-back converter station is situated at the end of the existing 400/154/33 kV Van Substation Center. Its primary function is to connect the 400kV-50Hz Turkish National Electricity grid with another 400kV-50Hz grid.

Impact on Türkiye's Power Grid

The successful completion of this project enhances the structure and security of Türkiye's domestic power grid. It fills a technological gap in Türkiye's power market by introducing DC transmission technology.

Construction and Implementation

The project was constructed by a consortium comprising ŞA-RA Energy and China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Limited Company. NR, another company involved in the project, provided core equipment including DC protection & control, AC protection, fault recording, measuring system, and phase selection switching device.

Technical Challenges

During the implementation phase, NR collaborated with the project owner to address the overvoltage problem in AC power grids on both sides of the converter station.