A collaborative UK project has achieved a significant technical breakthrough in the operation ofHigh Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)power systems, showing for the first time that control systems from different manufacturers can operate together within a shared network.
The work was carried out byScottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission, in partnership withGE Vernova,Mitsubishi Electric, and theNational HVDC Centre, and was supported by funding fromOfgem’s Network Innovation Allowance (NIA). The successful demonstration took place at theIET ACDC International Conference, where researchers showed that HVDC control and converter systems from different suppliers could be connected and operated in a coordinated way.
This development addresses a longstanding technical and commercial challenge in the deployment of offshore HVDC grids. Until now, integrating systems from multiple vendors has been limited by compatibility issues, often requiring costly infrastructure workarounds.
Nithiananthan Vejayan, project manager atSSEN Transmission, said the team’s goal was to demonstrate practical interoperability to support the UK’s future energy system needs.Ben Marshallof theNational HVDC Centreadded that the demonstration shows the approach is viable for future energy infrastructure projects and removes key barriers to collaboration across different technology providers.
Further testing is planned with additional manufacturers, includingHitachi EnergyوSiemens Energy, to evaluate broader system compatibility.
Source:ssen-transmission.co.uk