Challenges and opportunities for a European HVDC grid

In 2009 the European governments committed their countries to a reduction in green-house-gas emissions up to 80% by 2050. Consequently, the employment of renewable energies has been strongly encouraged, making the upgrade of the existing AC grid necessary. Several associations are considering whether it would be more beneficial to build an HVDC grid instead. The main objective of the current study is to investigate possibilities and challenges in relation to the installation of a European HVDC grid. Most suitable technologies and possible configurations have been identified. Applications and existing projects of HVDC have been briefly mentioned. After examining various Supergrids models, financial aspects resulted challenging, since big investments are required. From a technical point of view, further research for DC voltage control and protection strategies is required. The publication of the HVDC Grid Codes represents a first step towards a European energy union; requirements are however not fully mandatory in all nations yet. The most probable development of the future HVDC grid has been defined: the grid is not expected to be built at once, but rather to develop in an organic way. In this sense, the installation of an offshore grid would be highly beneficial. Studies of possible supergrid architectures are still controversial and in part superficial. A solution to solve those lacks and achieve an agreement would be a strict collaboration between existing associations and involved European countries.