Research & Development Programs

Supergrid Architecture & Systems

Developing large DC grids raises a number of technical challenges: DC grid protection against electrical fault, DC voltage transformation, power flow controllability in a meshed system or in a system which involves LCC and VSC technologies, and more. Architecture principles must also allow the co-existence of technologies from different origins, and a step-wise development.

High Voltage Substation Equipment

The high voltage substation equipment research program of SuperGrid Institute is facing many challenges. Its first challenge is the interruption of fault currents by the circuit breakers installed on meshed DC networks. The second challenge is the development of gas-insulated substations for DC applications. The third focus area will be related to research and implementation of new solid and gas insulation systems to provide high electrical and long term performances as well as more environment-friendly interrupting principles.

Power Electronics & Converters

The power electronics & converters research program of SuperGrid Institute is focused on power electronics technologies to meet the requirements of the future DC grid. Research covers innovative topologies and control to build highly efficient MVDC and HVDC power converters, in particular for DC/DC conversion.

HVDC Cable Systems & Junctions

The HVDC cable systems research program of SuperGrid Institute covers the development of specific technological bricks for HVDC cable systems and studies materials with advanced performances for network components.

Stabilization & Storage

The stabilization & storage research program aims at developing solutions to support more grid flexibility and offer adaptive storage related to new ancillary services. There is a wide range of energy storage technologies with different levels of maturity and to meet new Grid Code requirements each of them has to be considered…