Projects: Projects for Investigator UKERC Home UKERC Energy Data Centre Projects Choose Investigator All Projects involving NIA_NGET0059
Reference Number	NIA_NGET0059
Title	Protection and Fault Handling in Offshore HVDC Grids
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 10%; Renewable Energy Sources(Ocean Energy) 5%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 85%;
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 National Grid Electricity Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 July 2012
End Date	01 June 2017
Duration	59 months
Total Grant Value	£2,100,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (100.000%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGET0059
Objectives	Facilitate a coordinated offshore transmission network as compared to a point to point or radial network. Reduced cost for UK consumer (capital cost reductions and also a reduction in operational costs such as maintenance costs and congestion management costs in relation to system operation), and facilitating a flexible offshore transmission network that is better able to respond to future challenges. Develop models of offshore grid components (cables, transformers, AC and DC breaker and HVDC converters) for electromagnetic transient studies. Define guidelines to reduce the risk of unexpected interactions between components during normal and fault conditions. Define strategies for protection and fault handling to improve the availability of the grid in case of failure. Demonstrate the effectiveness of these tools with numerical simulations (PSCAD, EMTP), real time simulations (RTDS, Opal-RT) and experimental setup. Expand the knowledge base on offshore grids.
Abstract	The transmission backbones for future offshore grids will rely on High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology since it represents the only viable candidate for transmission of high power with cables over long distances. To date most HVDC has been used for point-to-point transmission with one sending and one receiving converter station. The need for integration of large scale renewable generation, the integration of markets, has resulted in a demand for new transmission capacity and interconnectors. To meet this need consideration is being given to applications of multi-terminal or meshed HVDC grids. The future power system is going to be highly complex, integrating renewable generation, increasing usage of long cables and HVDC. Successful implementation will require extensive computer simulations during all the planning and engineering phases. Existing simulation tools have limited accuracy for representing many critical components and phenomena such as mutual interaction between converters, fault conditions and transient phenomena, as well as the possible interactions between AC and DC systems. Research The project will largely focus on offshore grids to target one of the thematic areas within energy systems. The primary objective of the project is to establish tools and guidelines to support the design of multi-terminal offshore HVDC grids in order to maximise system availability. Main focus will be on limiting the effects of failure and the risks associated to unexpected interaction between components. A collaborative research group is being established, made up of utilities, manufacturers and research bodies, to investigate study of interaction of HVDC converters, DC and AC network components within an offshore transmission grid. The main focus will be on transient analysis and failure scenarios. Research methods include simulations, laboratory validation and demonstrations, and real-time simulations (RTDS).Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	26/10/18