Current Projects
The Centre is currently delivering the following:
- Eastern Link: Providing technical support to the Eastern link project team.
- HVDC Support: for Electricity System Black-Start and Restoration
- Multi-Vendor Implications for Shetland: Impact of a developing a multi-vendor multi-terminal system
- Shetland Fault-Level/Modelling: Modelling the Shetland Network, with the impact of an HVDC connection.
- SCADA System Implementation: Deploying a replica of the SCADA interface to aid training.
- Coordination of AC network protection during grid energisation from HVDC schemes (with EPRI)
- Stability assessment and mitigation of HVDC converter interactions (with the University of Strathclyde)
- Improving Grid Code Compliance of existing and upcoming HVDC Schemes in GB (with Cardiff University)
- PROMOTioN (WP9 lead): Demonstration of DC grid protection
Completed Projects
Previously completed projects:
- ESO Stability Pathfinder: The HVDC Centre investigates the impact of declining system strength on the stability of HVDC links
- Maximising HVDC for Black Start: The HVDC Centre leads the improvement of Great Britain’s Black Start capabilities using HVDC.
- North Sea Link Protection Coordination Testing: The HVDC Centre supports the protection co-ordination testing for the new HVDC North Sea Link interconnector to ensure the security and resilience of the GB electricity network.
The Caithness–Moray HVDC scheme (CM), was commissioned in 2018, enabling wind generators in Caithness to connect to the rest of the UK grid, bringing the abundant wind resource in the north of Scotland to the rest of GB. Converter stations are located at Spittal (800MW capacity) and Blackhillock (1200MW capacity). The scheme has been designed to extend to up to 5 terminals, making it Europe’s first multi-terminal HVDC grid design. The multi-terminal extension to Shetland is currently under consideration.
Multi-terminal DC links bring greater flexibility to DC transmission. As this is a new technology there is a requirement to build operational and technical knowledge to reduce risks associated with their deployment. The National HVDC Centre hosts the replicas for the Caithness and Moray converter stations, but also the Shetland converter station (even though it has yet to be built).