First UK HVDC Test Centre Open for Business

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has opened a new technology centre in Cumbernauld that will allow the energy industry to simulate real life conditions to test and de-risk the use of high voltage direct current (HVDC) on the electricity network in Great Britain.

The National HVDC Centre, owned and operated by SSEN, is the first of its kind in the UK. It was officially opened by the Scottish Government’s Minister for Employability and Training and the local MSP, Jamie Hepburn, on 26 April 2017.

The National HVDC Centre provides an industry-wide collaborative testing facility for electricity Transmission Owners and Operators, suppliers, developers and academic institutions to simulate the use of HVDC technology on the GB electricity network.

The centre is expected to play a crucial role in the development of HVDC technology projects, such as the Caithness-Moray subsea transmission line which is currently in construction. Caithness-Moray will introduce HVDC technology within SSEN’s transmission network in the north of Scotland for the first time.

HVDC is the most efficient way to transport electricity over long distances, and it is particularly beneficial for subsea transmission. Due to the increasing need to connect more remote renewable generation schemes, such as offshore wind farms, there is expected to be a significant number of new HVDC schemes deployed in Great Britain over the coming years, SSEN said.

The facility will use computer simulators, which replicate the electricity network in real time, to allow engineers to study the impact the HVDC systems can have to identity and mitigate any risks in a safe test environment before the technology goes live on the network.

This new centre was funded through the energy regulator Ofgem’s Electricity Network Innovation Competition.

There are currently four schemes using HVDC technology connecting to the electricity network of Great Britain, with some currently in construction and many more expected within the next few years. The National HVDC Centre will ensure that each of these projects is tested before going live on the electricity network and then supported through their operational life. The facility will also be used to train engineers on the complexities of HVDC systems and stimulate innovation within the industry.