Getting Ready for Multi-Vendor and Multi-Terminal HVDC Technology

Energies, vol. 17, pp. 2388

Abstract

Interoperable multi-vendor High-Voltage Direct-Current (HVDC) grids are a key enabler for the integration of renewable energy (in particular offshore wind) and its transmission over longer distances to consumers. However, most HVDC systems today are single-vendor and point-to-point. Various technical and non-technical aspects need to be considered, for example, (real-time) testing, legal aspects (intellectual property and regulation), and the multi-vendor interoperability process. This paper presents findings from the READY4DC project, which is a larger and open European effort involving diverse stakeholders, including HVDC manufacturers, transmission system operators, wind developers, academia, and research institutes. It summarizes key technical recommendations, emphasizing comprehensive interaction studies and the development of a structured legal framework to facilitate the development and operation of a multi-vendor, multi-terminal HVDC grid. The READY4DC project highlights the need for increased harmonization, transparent communication among stakeholders, and future-oriented research to ensure the robustness and interoperability of interconnected grids. Collaborative efforts are key for addressing technical complexities and advancing the deployment of multi-vendor multi-terminal HVDC technology.

Authors 8

1. Jaqueline Cabañas Ramos corresponding Aachen Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Marc Moritz Aachen Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Nico Klötzl

   Tennet (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   TenneT TSO GmbH, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany

4. Ceciel Nieuwenhout

   University of Groningen

   Affiliation as printed

   Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Sustainability, University of Groningen, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands

5. William Leon Garcia

   Supergrid Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   SuperGrid Institute, 69100 Villeurbanne, France

6. Ilka Jahn

   KTH Royal Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Electric Power and Energy Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

7. Dimitar Kolichev
   Affiliation as printed

   T&D Europe, B1030 Brussels, Belgium

8. Antonello Monti corresponding Aachen Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany