Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has completed the ±150 kV Wando– Dongjeju high voltage direct current (HVDC) project.
The completion ceremony for the project was held at the Dongjeju Transformer Station in Jeju City. The 200 MW project involved the installation of a 98-km undersea cable between Wando and Jeju, boosting the power supply from the mainland to Jeju from 360 MW to 600 MW, and the supply reserve ratio from 14.3 per cent to 30.8 per cent. The submarine cable was installed in December 2023, followed by the installation and testing of the conversion equipment in September 2024. The stability of the equipment was verified through a two-month test run, which was completed. This project is aimed at stabilisation of the Jeju region’s power grid, which has long been challenged by rapid electricity demand growth due to tourism and regional development. The expansion of HVDC capacity will help reduce the amount of power purchased from expensive generators in Jeju Island, which is expected to reduce the annual power purchase cost by about KRW20 billion.