Joint industry project to standardise HVDC transmission connections in US

US-based quality assurance and risk management company DNV has launched a joint industry project to identify changes to electrical standards and standardisation needed to enable the connection of high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission into the US electric grid.

The project is being coordinated alongside 10 transmission and offshore wind developers, including Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, EDF Renewables, Equinor, Invenergy, National Grid Ventures, Ocean Winds, PPL TransLink WindGrid, RWE, Shell and TotalEnergies.

Phase one of the project will run through early 2024, during which DNV and the project participants will undertake an inventory of and prioritise key technical issues that stand in the way of the timely and efficient use of HVDC transmission.

After ranking the issues based on the participants’ experiences, the group will identify a stakeholder body most responsible for implementing a solution.

According to a DNV release, HVDC transmission is not widely used within the US and there are appreciable barriers to its further development that represent a serious risk to the long-term development, growth and economic feasibility of clean energy projects being propelled by the Inflation Reduction Act.

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According to the company’s Energy Transition North America report, the US will not achieve its clean energy goals without modernising its power grid.

Specifically, the company’s forecast shows that more than 5,900 miles (9500km) of HVDC undersea transmission cables are needed to enable efficient offshore wind development by mid-century.

“To put it simply, there will be no transition without transmission,” said Richard S. Barnes, region president, Energy Systems North America at DNV.

“It doesn’t matter how much clean power generation capacity is online if there is no low-cost, reliable way to get that energy to the grid. HVDC transmission is a key part of the solution, and DNV is proud to be working with leading offshore wind and transmission companies to tackle head on the barriers preventing its deployment.”

Upon completion of phase one, DNV and the participants will use the findings to raise awareness of the barriers to the greater use of HVDC transmission and the stakeholder bodies who can help overcome them.

Through this effort, the project aims to reduce project risks, accelerate deployment timelines and ensure that supply chain constraints are appropriately considered.