Journal of Engineering Sciences and Innovation Volume 5, Issue 2 / 2020, pp. 129-140 Technical Sciences Academy of Romania C. Environmental Engineering and Energy www.jesi.astr.ro Received 6 February 2020 Accepted 19 June 2020 Received in revised from 8 May 2020 High voltage DC power distribution: a panoramic view ION BOLDEA, NICOLAE MUNTEAN * , LUCIAN TUTELEA, DAN HULEA University POLITEHNICA Timişoara, Romȃnia Abstract. High voltage DC power systems (HVDC) provide essential technical advantages in relation with the AC classical distribution networks: increasing the capacity and the stability in a natural and efficient way, simultaneously with the decoupling of some local disturbances that may occur in their subsystems and the easy interconnection of power AC grids with different parameters. In addition, the increased share of renewable energy sources and the fact that their production takes place in concentrated areas, often away from the consumption areas, require the existence of distribution facilities in the field of GW power levels, with flexible connectivity possibilities. The paper presents general aspects regarding the configuration and the main components of a HVDC power system, implementation in several representative applications. Keywords: power systems; DC power distribution; static power converters. 1. Introduction HVDC is a technology used on an industrial scale for over 60 years [1]. HVDC is the most suitable solution for efficient and reliable distribution of electricity, at high energy levels (GW power, hundreds of kV DC voltage levels) and over relatively long distances, being able to mix inputs and connect networks with different parameters. The absence of reactive power circulation on the distribution lines, the fact that DC the cable's own capacity does not introduce reactive currents, leads to the corresponding minimization of losses [2]. HVDC could be implemented with the development of the power electronics industry and the related control structures, which allowed the development of dedicated static converters for transforming the energy from AC to DC and vice versa and the control of the power circulation at such energy levels [2-5 ]. Thus, it is possible to speak of classic HVDC systems, which use thyristor in the static converters (at power levels in the range 1…3 GW). New structures can be made with IGBT * Correspondence address: nicolae.muntean@pt.ro