HVDC Transmission Market Report Released

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission is the method of choice for the subsea transmission of electricity, the connection of disparate AC grids and/or the movement of bulk amounts of electrical power over vast distances.

In each of these three respects HVDC transmission is superior to its competitor HVAC (high voltage alternating current).

Composed of the capital expenditure upon HVDC transmission, this market is due for steady, incremental growth over the next 5 years. Visiongain anticipates, nevertheless, that some regions of the world, such as South East Asia and Africa, have the potential to attract significant investment given opportune political and regulatory circumstances.

The majority of HVDC transmission constructed is of the point-to-point variety; with no integrated HVDC circuit breaker proven commercially viable, electricity can only be moved between two points. This limits potential. Subsequently, it is used, for the most part, to connect large power resources, such as a hydroelectric power generation facilities, to load centres. The ABB HVDC circuit breaker, announced in 2012, is a game-changer for the industry that could enable the creation of a HVDC grid.

Asia dominates the HVDC transmission market. In China, the government’s ambition to connect hydropower resources in the South-West and coal reserves in the North-West to Eastern and South-Eastern cities is the prime agent of this dominance. In addition, with fewer regulatory or right-of-way obstacles facing development than in Europe or North America, the Asian share of the HVDC transmission market declines relatively little during the next 10 years. Lower barriers to project development, combined with low political instability, also make Asian investment outcomes more certain than any other region.

Overall, the outlook for HVDC transmission is positive. The core drivers for spending on this method of transmission are in place: power balancing, energy efficiency gains, greater affordability for end users and the connection of renewables. However, rigid regulation, right-of-way issues, political instability and political opposition to hydropower conspire to limit growth and amplify investment uncertainty and risk.

Visiongain has determined that the value of the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission market will reach $16,556.1m in 2013.

What makes this report unique?

Visiongain consulted widely with industry experts and full transcripts from these exclusive interviews are included in the report. As such, the report has a unique blend of primary and secondary sources providing informed opinion. The report provides insight into key the drivers for, and restraints on, HVDC transmission capital expenditure. It also identifies future growth areas, analyses leading companies and provides a unique blend of qualitative analysis combined with extensive quantitative data including global and regional market forecasts from 2013-2023 – all highlighting key business opportunities.

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Press Release, October 04, 2013