EN 60038:2011/prA2:2025 (Fragment 2)

Amendment 2 (Fragment 2) - Standard voltages for HVDC supply and HVDC equipment (Proposed horizontal standard)

Tensions normales de la cei

Standardne napetosti za visokonapetostno enosmerno napajanje ali visokonapetostno enosmerno opremo (predlagan horizontalni standard) - Dopolnilo A2 (fragment 2)

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 27-Jun-2027
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 8X - System aspects of electrical energy supply
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 8 - IEC_TC_8
• Current Stage: 4020 - Enquiry circulated - Enquiry
• Start Date: 05-Dec-2025
• Due Date: 31-Oct-2016
• Completion Date: 05-Dec-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60038:2011/oprA2:2026 (Fragment 2) - Amendment 2 (Fragment 2) - Standard voltages for HVDC supply and HVDC equipment (Proposed horizontal standard)

Relations

• Amends: EN 60038:2011 - CENELEC standard voltages
• Effective Date: 08-Feb-2022

Overview

EN 60038:2011/prA2:2025 (Fragment 2) Amendment 2 is a proposed horizontal standard published by CLC focusing on standard voltages for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) supply and HVDC equipment. This amendment updates the standard voltage ranges applicable to HVDC systems, particularly for systems with nominal voltages above 1.5 kV. It aims to harmonize voltage levels across HVDC transmission and distribution networks to enhance compatibility, safety, and system performance.

This standard is relevant for electrical engineers, system designers, and manufacturers involved in HVDC technology and infrastructure development.

Key Topics

• Nominal Voltage Standards for HVDC Systems
  Amendment 2 introduces standardized nominal voltages for HVDC systems operating at voltages above 1500 V. The nominal voltages are defined as pole-to-earth voltages and exclude harmonics, ripples, and measuring tolerance, but allowance is made for total voltage increases of 1.5% to 5%.

• Recommended DC Voltage Series
  The standard provides a series of preferred nominal voltages for HVDC systems in Table 8, including values from 3 kV up to 800 kV and beyond. The preferred values are:

  • 3 kV, 6 kV, 10 kV (preferred), 20 kV, 35 kV, 50 kV, 100 kV (preferred)
  • 160 kV (preferred), 200 kV, 250 kV (preferred), 320 kV, 400 kV (preferred), 500/525 kV, 600 kV, 800 kV (preferred)

• Ultra High Voltage DC (UHVDC) Definition
  Voltages equal to or exceeding 800 kV are classified as UHVDC, highlighting their use in very long-distance and high-capacity HVDC transmission systems.

• System Applicability and Exceptions
  The DC voltage series does not strictly apply to standalone HVDC systems such as point-to-point HVDC links but is recommended for interlinked grid systems or DC grids for enhanced coordination.

• Harmonization and Regional Variations
  While this standard promotes uniform voltage levels to improve safety and electromagnetic compatibility, it also recognizes that some countries may have established different DC standard voltages.

Applications

• HVDC Transmission and Distribution Systems
  The recommended voltage levels support design and operation of HVDC transmission lines, enabling efficient long-distance energy transfer with reduced losses.

• HVDC Equipment Design
  Manufacturers of transformers, converters, cables, and switchgear can standardize their products to operate at specified nominal voltages, ensuring interoperability and compliance with international standards.

• DC Grid Development
  Power system planners and grid operators implementing multi-terminal HVDC grids benefit from a unified voltage standard to streamline system integration and enhance network stability.

• Ultra High Voltage DC Projects
  UHVDC projects benefit from clear voltage guidelines facilitating the deployment of advanced technology for bulk power transfer.

Related Standards

• IEC TS 63471: DC Voltages for HVDC Grids
  This technical specification complements EN 60038 by providing detailed guidelines on DC voltage regulation and grid operation in HVDC networks.

• IEC 60038 Base Standard
  EN 60038 forms the foundation for voltage standardization, including AC and DC voltage levels in various electrical systems.

• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Safety Standards
  Related IEC standards address the electromagnetic and safety aspects pertinent to HVDC systems to ensure reliable and secure operation.

Summary

EN 60038:2011/prA2:2025 Amendment 2 sets forth a comprehensive framework for standard voltages in HVDC supply and equipment, especially for voltages above 1.5 kV. By defining a series of nominal DC voltages, the amendment facilitates consistency across HVDC systems, supports technology development, and ensures compliance with safety and operational requirements. Its application spans HVDC transmission, distribution, and the design of related equipment, promoting harmonization essential for modern electrical energy supply systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2026
Standardne napetosti za visokonapetostno enosmerno napajanje ali
visokonapetostno enosmerno opremo (predlagan horizontalni standard) -
Dopolnilo A2 (fragment 2)
Amendment 2 (Fragment 2) - Standard voltages for HVDC supply and HVDC equipment
(Proposed horizontal standard)
Tensions normales de la cei
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60038:2011/prA2:2025 (Fragment 2)
ICS:
27.100 Elektrarne na splošno Power stations in general
SIST EN 60038:2011/oprA2:2026 en
(Fragment 2)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

8/1777/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)

PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60038/AMD2/FRAG2 ED7
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-12-05 2026-02-27
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
8/1752/CD, 8/1773/CC
IEC TC 8 : SYSTEM ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY SUPPLY
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
Italy Mr Christian Noce
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
TC 1,TC 2,TC 3,SC 3C,SC 3D,TC 4,TC 5,TC 7,SC 8A,SC TC 8 Horizontal Basic
8B,SC 8C,TC 9,TC 10,TC 11,TC 13,TC 14,TC 15,TC 17,SC
17A,SC 17C,TC 18,SC 18A,TC 20,TC 21,SC 21A,TC 22,SC
22E,SC 22F,SC 22G,SC 22H,TC 23,SC 23A,SC 23B,SC
23E,SC 23G,SC 23H,SC 23J,SC 23K,TC 25,TC 26,TC 27,TC
29,TC 31,SC 31G,SC 31J,SC 31M,TC 32,SC 32A,SC 32B,SC
32C,TC 33,TC 34,SC 34A,SC 34B,SC 34C,SC 34D,TC 35,TC
36,SC 36A,TC 37,SC 37A,SC 37B,TC 38,TC 40,TC 42,TC
44,TC 45,SC 45A,SC 45B,TC 46,SC 46A,SC 46C,SC 46F,TC
47,SC 47A,SC 47D,SC 47E,SC 47F,TC 48,SC 48B,SC 48D,TC
49,TC 51,TC 55,TC 56,TC 57,TC 59,SC 59A,SC 59C,SC
59D,SC 59F,SC 59K,SC 59L,SC 59M,SC 59N,TC 61,SC
61B,SC 61C,SC 61D,SC 61H,SC 61J,TC 62,SC 62A,SC
62B,SC 62C,SC 62D,TC 64,TC 65,SC 65A,SC 65B,SC 65C,SC
65E,TC 66,TC 68,TC 69,TC 70,TC 72,TC 73,TC 76,TC 77,SC
77A,SC 77B,SC 77C,TC 78,TC 79,TC 80,TC 81,TC 82,TC
85,TC 86,SC 86A,SC 86B,SC 86C,TC 87,TC 88,TC 89,TC
90,TC 91,TC 94,TC 95,TC 96,TC 97,TC 99,TC 100,TA 1,TA
2,TA 4,TA 5,TA 6,TA 15,TA 16,TA 17,TA 18,TA 19,TA 20,TC
101,TC 103,TC 104,TC 105,TC 106,TC 107,TC 108,TC 109,TC
110,TC 111,TC 112,TC 113,TC 114,TC 115,TC 116,TC 117,PC
118,TC 119,TC 120,TC 121,SC 121A,SC 121B,TC 122,TC
123,TC 124,TC 125,PC 126,PC 127,PC 128,TC
129,CISPR,CIS/A,CIS/B,CIS/D,CIS/F,CIS/H,CIS/I,CIS/S,ACEA,
ACEC,ACEE,ACOS,ACSEC,ACTAD,SyC AAL,SyC COMM,SyC
LVDC,SyC SM,SyC Smart Cities,SyC Smart Energy,SEG
11,SEG 12,SEG 13,SEG 14,ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25,ISO/IEC
JTC 1/SC 41,ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 43
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
Electromagnetic Compatibility,Safety
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel
...