Alstom Grid and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) have announced the creation of KEPCO Alstom Power Electronics Systems (KAPES). The joint venture will focus on delivering high voltage direct current (HVDC) projects in Korea. This long term strategic relationship aims at increasing Korean transmission grid capabilities based on Alstom technology. The joint venture is implemented with a shareholding of 51% for KEPCO and 49% for Alstom.
Alstom Grid and KEPCO have been working together since 1997 on two important HVDC reference projects in Korea. Alstom provided the original 300 MW HVDC bipole link for the point-to-point submarine interconnection linking South Korea’s Jeju Island across 101 kilometres with the mainland in the late 1990s. In 2009, Alstom was then awarded a second contract to supply the new converter stations for the 400 MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) bipole scheme.