High-voltage direct current (HVDC) resource hub
Stress on the grid is at an all time high, driven by increasing electricity demand and aging infrastructure. The ability to move power quickly and reliably across long distances is becoming increasingly critical. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission offers distinct advantages for interregional coordination, system stability, and resilience. But despite its success abroad, HVDC deployment in the U.S. has lagged behind its potential.
A national HVDC macrogrid layered onto our existing system would reinforce the grid, allowing regions to share resources, manage variability, and reduce the risk of widespread outages. With proven technology and a phased buildout approach, it’s possible to make significant progress, even in today’s political climate.
Realizing these benefits will require targeted policy reforms to overcome regulatory and market barriers. This hub brings together research and analysis on HVDC deployment, technical implementation, regulatory barriers, and legislative solutions, grounded in the findings of our report, Unlocking HVDC: How Congress Can Enable a More Resilient Grid.
- Unlocking HVDC: How Congress can enable a more resilient grid
- Webinar recording promoting paper publication
- Conservative Energy Network podcast episode promoting paper
Technical Volume: How does HVDC work?
The Technical Volume is a series of short, question-driven explainers that take a deeper look at the engineering concepts behind how HVDC operates on the grid. These pieces break down complex ideas without jargon, making the fundamentals of HVDC accessible and easy to understand.
- Why are utilities building tomorrow’s grid with yesterday’s technology?
- How HVDC transmission can keep Texas independent and resilient
- The science behind direct current power
Model legislation: How can Congress deploy HVDC?
Our research includes draft model legislation that reflects the policy recommendations in Unlocking HVDC. The legislative texts illustrate how Congress could operationalize these ideas through targeted statutory changes to support HVDC transmission and grid resilience goals.
