TNEI has been awarded a prestigious innovation grant award in partnership with Cardiff University, as part of a ground breaking offshore wind energy project funded by Innovate UK under the UK-US Offshore Wind Collaborative R&D competition. This project also involves collaboration with the US-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), with separate funding provided by the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC)’s state members Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Maryland Energy Administration and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
The UK government has set an ambitious target of achieving 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, a significant leap from the current 15GW. To support this growth, National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) has outlined the Holistic Network Design (HND), a critical infrastructure blueprint designed to enable this expansion. A key element of the HND is the introduction of Multi Terminal DC (MTDC) networks, which will connect offshore wind farms to the onshore transmission system. However, the integration of MTDC networks, especially with Grid Forming (GFM) technology, presents novel challenges, as existing offshore wind farms are primarily connected via AC systems.
Our project will focus on addressing these challenges by investigating the technical design requirements for future MTDC-connected Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs), with a special emphasis on coordinating GFM control. In addition, we will explore the provision of critical system services such as voltage and frequency support, as well as the use of energy storage to enable Black Start capabilities for wind farms. This research is pivotal in ensuring that offshore wind energy can contribute to grid stability and resilience in the future.
TNEI will lead the modelling efforts in collaboration with Cardiff University, focusing on developing both Grid Forming (GFM) and Grid Following (GFL) control modes for HVDC converters and OWFs. The project will also develop optimal Black Start strategies. These desktop studies will be validated through hardware-in-the-loop simulations conducted by Cardiff University, ensuring that our findings are robust and applicable to real-world scenarios.
The project, set to begin in August 2024 and span two years, represents a significant step toward unlocking the full potential of offshore wind, contributing to the UK’s clean energy goals, and positioning MTDC technology at the forefront of this energy transition.
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