Higashi-Shimizu Frequency Converter, Power converter station in Shimizu-ku, Japan
The Higashi-Shimizu Frequency Converter is a power conversion station in Shimizu-ku, Japan, that links two separate electricity grid sections operating at different frequencies. The station uses a back-to-back direct current link housed in two converter blocks to transfer power between the two sides without any direct alternating current connection.
Japan ended up with two grid frequencies because the eastern and western parts of the country adopted equipment from different European and American suppliers in the late 19th century. This station opened in 2006 as the third converter built in Japan to bridge those two grids.
Japan is the only major industrial country that runs two different grid frequencies at the same time, a legacy of early electrification by different foreign suppliers. This facility sits at the invisible border between these two frequency zones, making it a concrete point where that historical divide is still visible today.
The station is an active industrial site and is not open to the public without prior arrangement. Anyone wishing to visit should contact the operator well in advance and expect strict security procedures on arrival.
Unlike the older converter stations in Japan, this one uses voltage source converter technology, which allows the direction and amount of power flow to be adjusted much more precisely and quickly. That flexibility makes it especially useful during grid emergencies, when rapid changes in power transfer can help stabilize the network.
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