In the 1870s, Thomas Edison began developing a practical application of direct current (DC) to power homes, businesses, and entire cities, including New York City. However, just 10 years later, Edison and George Westinghouse engaged in what became known as the "War of the Currents." They battled over whether DC or alternating current (AC) transmission was the more suitable technology for the large-scale supply of electricity in the U.S. Ultimately, AC power emerged as the supposed winner, and today, electricity is predominantly powered by alternating currents. In recent years, however, DC has experienced a renaissance. The need for power transmission using high-voltage DC (HVDC) transmission is increasing with the growing integration of renewables. Why? HVDC technology plays a fundamentally important role in the energy transition from point-to-point connections over hundreds of kilometers of land, to power connections between different countries, to connecting wind farms on the high seas. It is the most efficient way to transmit power over long distances and a pivotal technology to live up to new challenges in the wake of the U.S.’s ambitious renewable expansion plans.
