Project
A purpose-built HVDC submarine link between Port Angeles, Washington and a landfall near Victoria, British Columbia — buried beneath the seabed across the Strait, continued underground on each shore, using ABB's HVDC Light® voltage-source converter technology and proven marine cable techniques.
The route
The cable corridor runs roughly 30 miles, leaving the U.S. shore in Port Angeles, Washington, crossing beneath the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and making landfall near Victoria on Vancouver Island. Most of that distance is submarine, with the cable buried beneath the seabed via subsurface trenching. Intertidal and nearshore zones are crossed via horizontal directional drilling — a no-trench, low-disturbance technique that protects sensitive shoreline ecosystems.
On each end, an AC/DC converter station ties the cable into the local high-voltage AC transmission system: Bonneville Power Administration's network on the U.S. side, and BC Hydro's network on the Canadian side. The endpoints, route corridor, and interconnection specifications were all defined and approved during the original development phase.
Cross section
The cable transitions from each AC/DC converter station through subsurface trenching to a horizontal-drilled crossing of the intertidal zone, then continues across the Strait floor under the protective cover of the seabed itself.
Why HVDC-VSC
High-voltage direct current with voltage-source converters is the modern standard for long submarine and underground links. It outperforms traditional AC and older line-commutated HVDC across the criteria that matter most for this route.
Voltage-source converters can operate into weak grids and can even black-start a network — properties that line-commutated HVDC and AC links cannot match. This makes the cable a true reliability asset, not just a power conduit.
Real and reactive power can be controlled independently and rapidly. The cable supports voltage regulation and reactive support on both sides, improving stability across the interconnection.
VSC stations are dramatically smaller than line-commutated equivalents. The cable itself is buried beneath the seabed, with no surface footprint and no electromagnetic field at the surface.
ABB's HVDC Light® has been deployed in dozens of installations worldwide — Gotland, DirectLink, Murraylink, CrossSound, and many subsequent projects. The technology is mature, with a clear performance and reliability record.
At a glance
The original engineering, environmental, and interconnection work is documented in detail. We're happy to share the relevant materials with serious investors, agencies, and partners.