Prospects of HVDC and facts for sustainability and security of power systems

The security of power supply in terms of reliability and blackout prevention has the utmost priority when planning and extending power grids. The availability of electric power is the crucial prerequisite for the survivability of a modern society and power grids are virtually its lifelines. The aspect of sustainability is gradually gaining in importance in view of such challenges as the global climate protection and economical use of power resources running short. It is, however, not a means to an end to do without electric power in order to reduce CO2 emissions. A more appropriate way is to integrate renewable energy resources to a greater extent in the future (energy mix) and, in addition to this, to increase the efficiency of conventional power generation as well as power transmission and distribution without loss of system security.