McNeill HVDC Back-to-back station, HVDC back-to-back station in Cypress County, Canada
McNeill HVDC Back-to-back station is a power conversion facility in Cypress County that links the electrical grids of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It converts alternating current to direct current, allowing electricity to flow between two provincial networks that operate independently.
The facility began operations in 1989 as the first HVDC installation to operate without a DC smoothing reactor, marking an important advance in power transmission technology. A digital control system upgrade in 2015 replaced the original analog equipment, improving reliability for electricity exchange between the two provinces.
The station represents Canadian engineering excellence in electrical power distribution, connecting two provinces with different grid characteristics and energy generation methods.
The station is located in a remote rural area and is not open to public visits as it is a sensitive energy infrastructure site. Visitors can observe the facility from a distance and should maintain respectful boundaries from all equipment.
The station operates with one of the lowest Effective Short Circuit Ratios ever recorded for a line-commutated HVDC converter, functioning below 1.0 on the Saskatchewan side. This technical characteristic allows it to work in an extreme operating condition that would not be possible for other similar systems.
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