Project description
Advancing HVDC grids to power Europe’s future
Europe’s push towards its 2050 climate goals requires a significant overhaul of its power system. Integrating offshore wind and modernising the grid is essential, but existing AC systems face limitations. High voltage direct current (HVDC) grids, which can seamlessly mesh with AC systems, offer a promising solution, yet their technology needs further advancement. Grid protection near HVDC converters and effective congestion management remain critical challenges. The EU-funded PROSECCO project aims to address these challenges by advancing HVDC grid maturity. It focuses on innovation in grid protection and congestion management, using a vendor-neutral, model-based approach. The project features four demonstrators across the EU, developing DC protection relays, power flow controllers, and cost-effectiveness tools.
Objective
The PROSECCO project brings direct advancements to the maturity level of HVDC grids. Doing so, it aids in realizing Europe's climate goals for 2050. Meshed HVDC grids is a key technology to integrate offshore wind and to upgrade the European power system. As such, the future power system will be a hybrid AC/DC grid where the HVDC grid seamlessly integrates with AC systems. PROSECCO addresses innovation needs in grid protection near HVDC converters and congestion management for hybrid AC/DC grids. PROSECCO utilises Model Based System engineering to have a consistent approach that is vendor neutral from design. It will advance research on (HVDC) grid protection, focusing on harmonized specifications, improved testing, multi-vendor integration, enhancing grid stability and selective protection. In congestion management, the project develops power flow schedulers, power flow control hardware, and holistic cost-benefit analysis tools.
PROSECCO will mature hybrid AC/DC grids through 4 different demonstrators across three EU member states, namely (1) unique test equipment for DC relays (2) DC protection relays being installed in actual DC grids (3) a full scale DC power flow controller and (4) software to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of protection and congestion management solutions. The project also contributes to international standardization and builds confidence in TSOs, educates power system engineers, and provides recommendations to ENTSO-E.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium