On August 27, 2026, the Niskanen Center, submitted comments to the Department of Energy on the agency’s 2026 Draft National Transmission Needs Study, identifying opportunities for the inclusion of valuable information on high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology in the final report.
In their draft report, DOE rightly focuses on interregional and cross-interconnection transmission as the most valuable types of transmission additions to our grid. HVDC transmission is uniquely suited to these applications, because it can carry electricity long distances with relatively few losses, yet it is underused in the U.S. compared to deployment in Europe and Asia.
Our recommendations to DOE focused on highlighting the unique technical capabilities of HVDC technology and how they can play a role in building more interregional and cross-interconnect transmission. By including additional information on HVDC in the final draft of the Needs Study, DOE can give developers, planners, and other readers valuable insight into not only HVDC’s technical attributes, but also the broader role that HVDC can play in grid modernization.
