Public Funding for UK Grid Solutions Limited

To unlock multi-vendor HVDC grids and foster the transition of the European energy sector at large scale, InterOPERA proposes a coordinated approach between a diverse, high-level group of industries at the forefront of RES development and grid management. 4 HVDC vendors, 8 TSOs, 2 wind turbine vendors and 3 wind park developers bring their industrial knowledge and practical abilities to make future HVDC systems mutually compatible and interoperable by design, and to improve the grid forming capabilities of offshore and onshore converters. Foreseen and planned HVDC projects will be analysed to define a demonstrator case study. The resulting systemlevel design will be usable as a guidance to coordinate offshore network planning. This new way of framing the European grid architecture and topology will ensure forward compatibility for future seamless system expansion. Interoperability of control and protection systems will be de-risked through the execution of all necessary activities concurring to the implementation of a real-time physical demonstrator. Concrete results will be delivered through this practical work: detailed functional specifications for each subsystem, standardised models, simulation platforms and interaction study processes, multi-vendor cooperation agreements. Those frameworks will be generalised into operational and strategic tools available to all European stakeholders for the development of multi-terminal HVDC grids that will enhance offshore wind development and integration. Solutions for multi-vendor project procurement, compliant with existing and future regulations, standards and laws, integrating the technical specifications and interoperability assessment tender stages, will be provided to pave the way to the first real-life projects in Europe. External stakeholders will be involved in two-way consultation workshops to maximise the uptake of InterOPERA’s key exploitable results. Recommendations to grid codes and standards will be issued.

To deal with low-volume, high-variability orders, companies in advanced economies are increasingly looking into autonomous manufacturing systems. However, these systems are usually prohibitively expensive due to the difficulty of creating intelligent machines that can autonomously deal with variations in products, processes and environmental conditions. We propose that autonomous manufacturing systems can be achieved at lower costs by moving away from this machine-centric focus towards a more product-centric view. By inserting inexpensive sensors, computers, and communication devices into production parts, we can create ‘Assertive Products’ that actively participate in manufacturing decision-making. By decentralising intelligence from machines to products, the manufacturing system as a whole can be made more autonomous at lower costs. The innovation proposed here will also create exciting opportunities for second-hand, used robots. Rather than investing in costly, highly advanced robots that can handle a few types of ‘dumb’ products and will cost a fortune to re-configure, manufacturers can rely instead on older robots that are retrofitted with communication systems, enabling them to interact with and adapt to many types of assertive products. For example, an assertive product can instruct a robot on the best way to grasp itself, reducing the requirements for the robot’s vision systems and removing the need to reprogram the robot every time a new part is introduced.

NanocompEIM Phase 2 will develop pre-commercial nanocomposite material formulations and component manufacturing processes scaled to full sized components for future power transmision networks including HVDC and HVAC converter and substation equipment for new smaller and more efficient network installations to meet the needs of future low carbon smarter energy grids. The project will produce selected full size components nanocomposite-based prototypes for specific HVDC and also HVAC applications to support the reliable operation of on and offshore renewable energy power networks. The project includes a dissemination phase, designed to support whole industry adoption of nanocompEIM materials technology. This is a vertically integrated project, which engages the complete supply chain from materials producers to equipment manufacturers to end-users in the form of all three Transmission System Operators in the UK who will ultimately use the components containing the materials made by the processes that this project will produce.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

To design, build and test a hardware demonstrator of a high-voltage, DC-DC converter to facilitate the design of a multi-megawatt converter for advanced power connections.

Awaiting Public Project Summary