South Korean cable manufacturer Taihan Cable & Solution has completed a purpose-built HVDC cable test center designed to support next-generation high-voltage transmission projects. The new facility enables the simultaneous testing of two 640 kV-class HVDC cable circuits, marking a significant expansion of the company’s in-house testing and certification capabilities.
Located within the Dangjin Cable Plant complex, the test center covers approximately 7,000 square meters and is directly integrated with Taihan’s existing production infrastructure. The company officially marked the completion of the facility with an opening ceremony held on January 29.
According to Taihan, the center is capable of conducting parallel tests on two HVDC cable links, covering both onshore and submarine applications. This dual-circuit capability is expected to significantly reduce development and certification timelines while allowing customer-specific requirements to be incorporated more rapidly into product design and validation processes.
A central strength of the new facility lies in the consolidation of essential testing equipment required to verify the safety, durability, and long-term reliability of HVDC cables. By bringing all critical testing functions together in a single location, the center provides a comprehensive, one-stop testing environment. This eliminates the need to move equipment between sites or rely on external testing facilities, improving efficiency and operational control.
With the commissioning of the test center, Taihan can now perform long-duration performance qualification (PQ) tests, which typically extend beyond one year, as well as temporary overvoltage (TOV) tests. Both are mandatory components of international HVDC cable qualification standards and are critical for securing approvals in global infrastructure projects.
The company emphasized that the new infrastructure strengthens its competitiveness in bidding for large-scale HVDC projects and enhances its ability to respond swiftly to market demands. By internalizing the full testing and validation process, Taihan aims to improve project lead times and reinforce customer confidence.
“The HVDC test center is a core piece of infrastructure that clearly demonstrates Taihan’s technological capabilities,” said Vice Chairman Song Jong-min. “By bringing the entire process—from development and testing to certification—under one roof, we are now better positioned to proactively support domestic and international HVDC initiatives, including the West Coast Energy Highway project.”
Taihan has steadily expanded its HVDC portfolio in recent years. In December 2022, the company successfully developed South Korea’s first 500 kV line-commutated converter (LCC) HVDC cable system, followed by a 525 kV voltage source converter (VSC) HVDC cable system, further strengthening its position in the high-voltage transmission market.
In parallel with its testing investments, Taihan is also scaling up manufacturing capacity. Construction of the company’s second submarine cable production facility began in September 2025. Once operational, the new plant is expected to deliver nearly five times the output capacity of Taihan’s first submarine cable facility.
The Dangjin Submarine Cable Plant 2 is designed to produce 640 kV-class HVDC submarine cables as well as 400 kV-class HVAC submarine cables, aligning closely with the capabilities of the newly completed HVDC test center. Together, these investments position Taihan Cable & Solution as a fully integrated supplier for advanced high-voltage cable projects in both domestic and global markets.
