Hyosung Heavy Industries is at the forefront of advancing the power grid, increasing flexibility, and ensuring the reliable delivery and the use of clean energy. But what are the cutting-edge technologies that Hyosung Heavy Industries is bringing to light in every corner of our lives? It may seem complex at first, but once you get to know it, the story of Hyosung Heavy Industries' power solution technologies is as fun and interesting as playing with block toys. Let us introduce you to the fascinating world of Hyosung Heavy Industries' power solution technologies.

How is electricity generated, transmitted, and used?

The journey of electricity to our homes involves three stages: generation, transmission, and distribution. Generation is the stage we're all familiar with, where electricity is produced through various means such as thermal, hydro, nuclear, and renewable energy sources for industrial and domestic use. Transmission is the process of sending the generated electricity from power plants to consumers, and since power plants can't send electricity directly to every household, it is first sent to power grid hubs. From these hubs, the distribution process takes over to deliver electricity to individual homes.

Substations play a critical role in this process. At higher voltages, electricity has lower transmission losses. During transmission, electricity generated from various sources is converted to high voltages, such as 345,000V or 765,000V, before being sent to power grid hubs. Once received, this high-voltage electricity must be converted back to a voltage suitable for domestic use before distribution. This essential conversion process is where substations come into play.

Substations house various facilities, including transformers. Hyosung Heavy Industries offers mobile substation solutions that independently modularize key substation components such as transformers, GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear), ESS (Energy Storage System), and STATCOM, based on technology optimized for each stage.

Hyosung Heavy Industries' Mobile Substation Solution: Necessity and Value

What are the advantages of Hyosung Heavy Industries' mobile substation solution, which consists of transformers, circuit breakers, and high-voltage switchgear (E-house) installed on a trailer that can be moved to the desired location and time according to the customer's needs?

▲ Toy block model of Hyosung Heavy Industries' Mobile Substation System

First, mobile substations can be useful in emergency situations where there are problems with the power supply. When natural disasters or accidents cause main power facilities to fail, it's critical to quickly restore the interrupted power network to prevent further damage. In such cases, the mobile substation solution enables a rapid response. With a modular mobile substation system, power can be quickly restored by replacing the faulty module.

To ensure quick and flexible response to any emergency situation, Hyosung Heavy Industries' mobile substations are designed for easy transportation and installation. They are designed in accordance with the road transportation regulations of each country, and by reducing the size of the transformers and reducing their weight by 30%, transportation is made more convenient. In addition, the mobile substations incorporate rotating bushings in their main component, the UHV circuit breaker, allowing immediate transport without the need to remove the bushings. The transformers loaded in the mobile substations are custom-designed to be immediately applicable to the voltage standards of the country of deployment, reducing component purchase costs and increasing efficiency.

Second, mobile substation solutions are necessary for the construction of renewable energy generation facilities to combat climate change. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal power have inconsistent voltage and current due to the nature of their energy sources, making them unstable. Therefore, substations capable of stabilizing the power are essential, but building generation and substation facilities can be time-consuming. This is where Hyosung Heavy Industries' mobile substation solutions shine. After the construction of renewable energy generation facilities, mobile substation solutions can quickly connect these facilities to the power grid. During the construction period of permanent substations intended for medium- to long-term use, mobile substation solutions enable the use of renewable energy.

In addition, as the number of renewable energy sources increases, leading to the construction of new transmission lines, there may be times when system codes cannot be met temporarily, and substations that require reactive power compensation during peak load periods may arise. In such cases, Hyosung Heavy Industries' mobile STATCOM (STACOM) can quickly ensure system restoration.

STATCOM, which utilizes power electronics technology, is a device that stably controls fluctuating voltages during transmission and distribution. Hyosung Heavy Industries has enabled stable power supply even during renewable energy generation, where voltage can fluctuate drastically due to weather conditions, by using its proprietary 'Modular Multi-level Converter' technology to maintain a constant output voltage.

In particular, the mobile STATCOM (container STATCOM) is characterized by shorter installation time and simplicity compared to traditional building-type STATCOMs, offering high economic efficiency. In addition, the ability to transport the STATCOM installed within a container allows for flexible response to temporary power load issues and natural disasters.

Third, it is beneficial for sites that operate for a short period of time but require a large power supply, such as mines or oil fields. Facilities at these sites are in operation during the mining season, and while they do not require permanent power infrastructure, they do require a significant amount of power during operation. Introducing mobile substation solutions to such sites can reduce the costs associated with constructing permanent substation facilities.

Hyosung Heavy Industries' Mobile GIS, with the company’s waterproof, dustproof, and corrosion-resistant technologies to an outdoor GIS, is mounted on a trailer and immediately shipped to the required location. It offers a customized layout design suitable for local transportation conditions and has the advantage of reducing the labor time required for bushing disassembly and installation by using rotating bushings when necessary. In addition, connecting the transformer on site and GIS with Hyosung Heavy Industries' GIB (Gas Insulated Bus) solution can also reduce damage due to exposure to extreme environments.

▲ BTB MV DC E-House 

A Medium Voltage DC system 30MW BTB MV DC E-House that Hyosung Heavy Industries supplied to the 'Green Energy Institute' in Jeollanam-do.

Hyosung Heavy Industries operates three types of mobile substations, each with different voltages and capacities, as well as mobile STATCOM and mobile ESS. HYOSUNG’s mobile solutions have received a total of 12 global international standard certifications, including IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association), and ISO 9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001 by  ISO (International Organization for Standardization), ensuring the highest quality environment. All mobile modules are supplied in the form of vehicles or E-Houses, and are not only used for emergency power substitution, but can also fully replace fixed substations.

▲ A 10MW/20MWh ESS E-House Hyosung Heavy Industries supplied to Oklahoma, USA.

Hyosung Heavy Industries provided Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) in Gangwon-do and Jeollabuk-do with 154kV 154/23/6.6kV, 3ph 30MVA mobile substations and the Green Energy Institute in Jeollanam-do with a 30MW BTB MV DC E-House medium voltage DC system. In addition, mobile substation solutions have been delivered to various countries around the world, including New York, Virginia, and Oklahoma in the U.S., the Philippines, Ethiopia, the U.K., and Scotland, and have received positive feedback.

Hyosung Heavy Industries' Delightful Imagination is Brought to Life with Toy Blocks

Recently, Hyosung Heavy Industries' delightful imagination has become a reality, with the aim of making the essential power technology of mobile substation solutions more familiar and accessible to more people. This has been achieved with the launch of the "Mobile Substation" toy block,, which is an exact replica of the mobile substation system.

▲ Hyosung Heavy Industries Mobile Substation Toy Block Kits

Hyosung Heavy Industries' Mobile Substation Toy Block Kits, available for purchase at the HYOSUNG’s Brand Shop, are a 1/100 scale miniature representation of a mobile substation, consisting of 8 models and 609 pieces. Although some simplifications have been made due to the nature of the toy blocks, the details of the substation equipment, STATCOM and ESS are well represented in the blocks. These mobile substation blocks have attracted the curiosity and interest of not only children, but also adults, making them a sought-after item. The response in the field has been very positive. In sales areas, it has become a popular gift, and for Hyosung Heavy Industries employees, it serves as a medium to share their pride in the company with their children.

At first glance, toy block and Hyosung Heavy Industries' mobile substation solutions may seem worlds apart. Nevertheless, Hyosung Heavy Industries' bridged the gap with its playful imagination. Technologies from Hyosung Heavy Industries' main business areas, such as power solutions, industrial machinery systems, electrical solutions, and renewable energy solutions, which may seem unfamiliar to the public, have been made more accessible through the mobile substation toy blocks.

As such, Hyosung Heavy Industries' technology is in fact very closely related to our daily lives, providing comfort and safety quietly and diligently. Please stay tuned for the activities of Hyosung Heavy Industries as they diligently maintain their position and immerse themselves in continuous innovation and technological development.