March 12, 2026
This technical webinar, sponsored by PELS TC 5 and TC 8, addresses the accelerating transformation of modern power systems driven by the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity in China, projected to reach 1800 GW by 2025. This unprecedented growth is fundamentally reshaping grid architecture, driving a structural transition toward power-electronics-dominated grids and significantly increasing the strategic importance of DC transmission technologies.
At the center of this evolution is the high-voltage Integrated Gate-Commutated Thyristor (IGCT), positioned as a key enabling device for next-generation high-power conversion systems. Compared with conventional IGBT- and thyristor-based solutions, IGCT technology offers compelling advantages in ultra-high-power applications, particularly in terms of robustness, efficiency, and controllability under demanding grid conditions.
The webinar examines the engineering and system integration of IGCT-based core equipment, including Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC), Hybrid Commutated Converters (HCC), DC circuit breakers, and DC transformers. These technologies form the backbone of modern high-voltage DC (HVDC) transmission systems and advanced grid stabilization architectures.
In addition, the session reviews recent engineering progress in major national infrastructure projects, such as the West-to-East Power Transmission Program, large-scale renewable energy transmission from desert, Gobi, and wasteland regions, metropolitan grid interconnections, and offshore wind integration. These case studies highlight the practical deployment of IGCT-based technologies across diverse and complex grid scenarios.
The webinar provides valuable technical insight for engineers, researchers, and system architects involved in high-power conversion, HVDC infrastructure, and next-generation grid modernization initiatives.