Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SPT_1307 | |
| Title | Investigation into the development of an MVDC Demonstration Project | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SP Energy Networks |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 July 2013 | |
| End Date | 01 April 2014 | |
| Duration | 9 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £125,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | Scotland | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SPT_1307 |
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| Objectives | Develop specifications/capabilities for a state of the art MVDC research centre capable of fulfilling the needs of both the renewable and the networks industry. The project will be considered a success if the project aims are realised. These are to gain an understanding of worldwide MVDC facilities and using this learning develop the requirements, capabilities and costs for a UK MVDC facility to allow for both research and training requirements to take place. | |
| Abstract | Today’s power systems use alternating current (AC) for transmission of electrical energy but historically the first grids were based on direct current (DC). As a result of considerable technical progress in the field of high-power semiconductor devices and cable technology, high-voltage point-to-point direct current (HVDC) transmission has been incorporated into grid networks. Due to the cost of HVDC power electronics, the physical demonstration, testing and development using high voltage levels can be prohibitive. Lower voltage level research and testing could, in certain instances, help understand the technology at higher voltages, by extrapolating the results based on the modular concept of the HVDC equipment. This type of research and testing facility provides additional societal benefits such as the facilitation of more competition in the DC suppliers sector, de-risk the manufacturing constraints and help SME companies to develop technologies in this space. Such a facility could also support the development of supply chain companies. The approach being considered is the leveraging of the investment of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) at Cumbernauld by extending it to enable research, development and demonstration of MVDC technologies. The PNDC was established to de-risk technology innovation deployment prior to deployment on electricity networks. The objective of the PNDC is to help accelerate technologies from their development stage through to commercialisation, an objective that would be shared by an MVDC extension to the Centre. An alternative to this extension would be a standalone MVDC research centre which this project would also consider. This work would be used to inform a Network Innovation Competition (NIC) funding application to Ofgem in March 2015 to support the development of MVDC research facilities.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 21/08/18 | |
