KEMA Labs has successfully conducted and demonstrated the full-scale testing of HVDC circuit breakers and HVDC GIS to a number of relevant stakeholders at its site at Arnhem, the Netherlands.

The goal was to demonstrate the newly developed test methods and circuits, and in light of the important role of offshore HVDC grids, to demonstrate the increased TRL (Technology Readiness Level) of HVDC circuit breakers and HVDC GIS, CESI said in the press release.

This was a particularly fundamental activity, as a meshed European offshore HVDC grid can provide significant benefits to the European energy market and decarbonization as part of European Green Deal.

HVDC circuit breakers are believed to play an important role in realizing high availability and low losses in multi-terminal HVDC grids. Several technology concepts have been developed by manufacturers, but thus far no HVDC circuit breakers have been installed in Europe.

HVDC GIS is found to be essential to reduce the footprint of HVDC switchgear and increase reliability. Currently, one-year duration tests are run at Arnheim site of a 320 kV HVDC GIS under full load cycles of current (4000 A) and voltage (420 kV DC).

The results and experiences of these tests are being carried further into newly initiated standardization activities in IEC.

Source: CESI