PROgress on Meshed HVDC Offshore Transmission Networks

A meshed European offshore transmission grid connecting offshore wind farms to shore could provide significant financial, technical and environmental benefits to the European electricity market. Launched in January 2016, PROMOTioN aims to explore and identify these potential benefits.

The main objective of PROMOTioN is the further development and demonstration of three key technologies:

• Diode rectifier offshore converters,
• Multi-vendor HVDC (high-voltage direct current) grid protection systems,
• Full power testing of HVDC circuit breakers.

Complementary to this end, 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.

Currently, the deployment of meshed HVDC offshore grids is hampered by the high cost of converter technology, and a lack of experience with protection systems and fault clearance components. In addition, deployment is hindered by limitations inherent to existing European regulations regarding the development of cross-border offshore infrastructures, national legal and regulatory barriers, and financing issues.

Relevance for Maritime Spatial Planning

A high level of cooperation between Member States is crucial for a fast and optimal deployment of offshore renewable energies and related grid infrastructure. Maritime Spatial Plans need to take into consideration the specific features of offshore renewable energies, such as the development of a grid and the connection to land.

Project partners

The project consortium chaired by DNV GL includes 34 partners from 11 countries. All the major HVDC manufacturers or TSOs linked to the North Sea, along with several wind turbine suppliers, offshore wind developers, as well as leading academics and consulting companies, are part of the project consortium.

List of partners

• DNV GL (NL)ABB (SE)
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (BE)
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE)
• EirGrid (IE)
• SuperGrid Institute (FR)
• Deutsche Windguard (DE)
• Mitsubishi Electric Europe (NL)
• Svenska kraftnät (SE)
• Grid Solutions – A GE and Alstom Joint Venture (UK)
• University of Aberdeen (UK)
• RTE (FR)
• TU Delft (NL)
• Statoil (NO)
• TenneT B.V. (NL)
• Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE (DE)
• Siemens AG, Energy Management Division (DE)
• Technical University of Denmark (DK)
• RWTH Aachen (IFHT) (DE)
• Universitat Politècnica de València (ES)
• Forschungsgemeinschaft fuer elektrische Anlagen und Stromwirtschaft e.V. (FGH) (DE)
• DONG Energy Wind Power A/S (DK)
• The Carbon Trust (UK)
• TRACTEBEL (BE)
• European University Institute -Florence School of Regulation (IT)
• IBERDROLA RENOVABLES ENERGÍA S.A (ES)
• T&D Europe (BE)
• University of Strathclyde (UK)
• Adwen (ES)
• Prysmian Group (IT)
• University of Groningen (NL)
• MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S (DK)
• Energinet.dk (DK)
• Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (SHE Transmission) (UK)