PROMOTioN - New EU project to boost the development of meshed HVDC offshore grids in Europe

PROMOTioN is funded under the EU Horizon2020 research programme, coordinated by DNV GL including 34 partners from 11 countries.

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.

A meshed offshore transmission grid connecting offshore wind farms to land could provide significant financial, technical and environmental benefits to the European electricity market. Launched this January, the project ‘PROgress on Meshed HVDC Offshore Transmission Networks’ (PROMOTioN) aims to investigate these benefits during the next four years. Currently it is 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.

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

Marie Donelly, Director Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency – DG ENER, said: “There is great potential in the Northern Seas to deliver significant quantities of clean energy, helping us both to decarbonise our economy and to increase the security of our energy supply. The Northern Seas offer unique opportunities for cooperation and to deliver cost-reduction to the offshore energy systems.  We think that an offshore grid in the North Sea could become a flagship project for regional cooperation as foreseen by the Energy Union.”

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 Horizon2020 research programme (H2020) from January 2016 until December 2019. The project consortium which is coordinated by DNV GL includes 34 partners from 11 countries - all major HVDC manufacturers, TSO’s linked to the North Sea, several wind turbine suppliers, offshore wind developers, leading academics, and consulting companies.  A series of stakeholder workshops and events will be organised during the project phase to discuss the various technological and regulatory approaches.

List of participants

PROMOTioN project
Participant short name
Participant legal name
Country
DNV GL
KEMA Nederland BV
Netherlands
ABB
ABB AB
Sweden
KU Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Belgium
KTH
KTN Royal Institute of Technology
Sweden
EIRGRID
EirGrid plc
Ireland
SGI
SuperGrid Institute
France
DWG
Deutsche WindGuard GmbH
Germany
MEU
Mitsubishi Electric Europe BV
Netherlands
Svk
Affärsverket Svenska Kraftät
Sweden
GE
Alstom Grid UK Ltd
(trading as GE Grid Solutions)
United Kingdom
UniAbdn
The University Court of the University of Aberdeen
United Kingdom
RTE
Réseau de Transport d'Électricité
France
TU Delft
Technische Universiteit Delft
Netherlands
STATOIL
Statoil SA
Norway
TENNET
TenneT TSO BV
Netherlands
SOW
German Offshore Windenergy Foundation
Germany
SIEMENS
Siemens AG
Germany
DTU
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
Denmark
RWTH AACHEN
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Germany
UPV
Universitat Politècnica de València
Spain
FGH
Forschungsgemeinschaft für Elektrische Anlagen und Stromwirtschaft eV
Germany
DONG ENERGY
Dong Energy Wind Power A/S
Denmark
CARBON TRUST
The Carbon Trust
United Kingdom
TRACTEBEL
Tractebel Engineering SA
Belgium
EUI
European University Institute
Italy
Iberdrola
Iberdrola Renovables Energía SA
Spain
T&D Europe
European Association of the Electricity Transmission & Distribution
Equipment and Services Industry
Belgium
USTRAT
University of Stratchclyde
United Kingdom
ADWEN
ADWEN Offshore SL
Spain
PRYSMIAN
Prysmian
Italy
RUG
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Netherlands
MVOW
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind AS
Denmark
Energienet
Energienet.dk
Denmark
SHE Transmission
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc
United Kingdom


“This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 691714”.

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In the Energy industry
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PROMOTioN

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