Direct current circuit breakers make power grids more robust

I’m going through my notes after a meeting with our partners at Mitsubishi Electric. My journey at Siemens Energy began as a working student, followed by a doctorate and various roles in engineering and technology consulting. Now, I lead a team that’s pioneering the future of Power transmission, and my days are filled with meetings involving cross-continental collaboration and strategic planning to develop revolutionary new DC grid solutions.

Our goal with Mitsubishi Electric is to create complementary DC circuit breakers that enable the use of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) grids with multiple connection points. It’s a key piece in transforming renewable energy transmission over long distances – making it more robust and affordable.

But the technical challenges are big. Traditional point-to-point HVDC connections are common enough – creating a hub with multiple HDVC connection points, however, requires sophisticated DC circuit breaker technology.

So at Siemens Energy, we’re developing ultra-fast power electronic breakers that interrupt current flow within less than 0.1 milliseconds, while Mitsubishi Electric is focusing on hybrid circuit breakers with lower power losses. Both systems have their advantages, but taken together they make operating large-scale renewable energy resources far more efficient.

For example, back in Europe, we’re planning on putting the first HVDC grid hub into operation by 2032, in collaboration with German transmission system operators – and the impact will be huge, reducing transmission losses by some 30 to 50% compared to an alternating current (AC) system. 

This combined approach between Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Electric marks a departure from conventional industry practice, where companies typically develop closed systems for the market. As power grids evolve, our work exemplifies how collaboration and complementary technological solutions are more than just the sum of their parts – and it’s partnerships like these that are going to get us to a more sustainable world.

I’m captivated by Japan’s ability to blend cutting-edge technology with traditional values – an appreciation that’s proved valuable in my trips to Tokyo. But the partnership also has an impact on my life outside work. In my free time, I’m currently learning to speak Japanese. And I’m assembling a LEGO model of – what else? – a Japanese castle.