DNV GL Leads Project to Boost Meshed HVDC Offshore Grids

A new project has been launched with aim to investigate the benefits of the meshed offshore transmission grid connecting offshore wind farms to land.

Lead by DNV GL, the project, ‘PROgress on Meshed HVDC Offshore Transmission Networks’ (PROMOTioN), planned to last the next four years, is currently the biggest energy project in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research program.

The goal is to develop and demonstrate three key technologies: diode rectifier offshore converters, multi-vendor high-voltage direct current (HVDC) grid protection system, and the full power testing of HVDC circuit breakers.

Furthermore, a regulatory and financial framework will be developed for the coordinated planning, construction and operation of integrated offshore infrastructures, including an offshore grid deployment plan (roadmap) for the future offshore grid system in Europe.

Elisabeth Harstad, CEO DNV GL – Energy, explained: “Combining new HVDC technologies within present systems is instrumental in bringing large scale renewables into the grid and to ensure a future-proof grid which is affordable, reliable and sustainable. By bringing in our 90 years of expertise in power systems, renewable technologies and experience in leading many joint industry projects I am confident DNV GL can guide the consortium in realizing this important project.”

PROMOTioN is funded under the EU Horizon 2020 research programme (H2020) from January 2016 until December 2019. The project consortium which is coordinated by DNV GL includes 34 partners from 11 countries.