Accelerating the deployment of offshore wind using DC technology

Lead Research Organisation: TNEI Services Limited
Department Name: Network and Innovation

Abstract

Renewable power is one of the main drives to achieve carbon reduction and net-zero, and to meet the ambitious climate
goals. In particular, offshore wind power in Europe has been developing at a rapid pace in recent years. Multi-Giga watts
offshore wind farms with larger wind turbine power ratings, floating wind turbines installed in deeper water areas, and
higher ratio of renewables integrated to existing power grids, are fundamentally changing power system operations and
bringing new challenges and technical demands.
This industry-doctorate consortium, ADOreD, will recruit and train 15 Researchers by collaborating with 19 academic and
industrial organisations. It aims to tackle the academic and technical challenges in the areas of transmission of offshore
wind power to the AC grid by using power electronics-based AC/DC technologies. In doing so, it will equip the
Researchers, through their PhD studies, with essential knowledge and skills to face fast energy transition in their future
careers.
The project covers 3 key research aspects: offshore wind (including wind turbines, wind power collection, and wind farm
design and control); DC technologies (including AC/DC converters, HVDC control and DC network operation and
protection); and AC grid (including stability and control of AC grids dominated with converters under various control modes.
The ADOreD consortium has excellent coverage of academic universities and industry organisations including
manufacturers, energy utilities, system operators, consultancy and technology innovation centres. All the research
questions in the project reflect industry needs; academic novelty and innovation will be reflected in the methodologies and
solutions; and the research results will be disseminated directly to the industry partners' products, grid operation and
services. The outcomes of the project are both technologies and a talent pool to accelerate the deployment and grid
integration of large-scale offshore wind power.

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