Bayreuth, Berlin, Dortmund, Stuttgart, 15 July 2024. An important joint project for the energy transition is becoming reality. The four German transmission system operators 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW are starting an innovation partnership with industrial partners Siemens Energy, GE Vernova and Hitachi Energy. The partnership will develop multi-terminal hubs with DC circuit breakers to interlink the new extra high voltage DC connections. An energy future “made in Europe”: the technical concept is unique in Europe and can be an important step towards establishing the net-zero grid of the future.
Tim Meyerjürgens, TenneT COO: “With this partnership, we are joining our forces and co-creating the infrastructure of the future. In the German North Sea alone, 70 gigawatts of offshore wind power are planned, which do not only need to be brought to land efficiently, but also need to be distributed across the country while conserving space and costs. At the same time, the further integration of renewable energy is increasing the requirements for grid stability and the security of supply. We are therefore relying on new innovative technologies and creating the first extensive meshed DC grid. Together, we are paving the way towards the net-zero grid.”
Stefan Kapferer, 50Hertz CEO: “The key to net zero is the electrification of our society with electricity from renewable sources. In the scope of this innovation partnership, the four German transmission system operators are joining forces with the leading technology companies of the sector to develop a common European standard for smart power hubs. This should enable us to interlink the large DC lines in the future and create a meshed DC grid that does not rely on straight point-to-point connections. This way, we are reinforcing the resilience of the entire European grid and increasing security of supply, flexibility and stability.”
Dr Hendrik Neumann, Amprion CTO: “Innovations are decisive for achieving our ambitious climate targets. That is why we as transmission system operators are actively furthering technological advances. In this context, the joint innovation partnership is an important building block for a sustainable, affordable and secure energy future in Germany and Europe.”
Dr Werner Götz, TransnetBW CEO: “Thanks to the innovative meshing of the power lines, we will minimise the space needed and the construction of new installations, while stabilising the costs for the consumer – and in doing so, boosting acceptance of the energy transition. Without wide social acceptance, the task of the energy transition, which will take generations, cannot be shouldered.”
Tim Holt, member of the board at Siemens Energy: “We look forward to cooperating with all German high voltage grid operators as part of this project, which is groundbreaking from both a technical and a strategic perspective. This is another step towards the flexible and efficient use of our high voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies. This way, we drive the energy transition forward together with our German partners.”
Johan Bindele, Head of Grid Systems Integration at GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions Business: “Innovation partnerships are the key to accelerating the energy transition. We look forward to collaborating on a new and groundbreaking HVDC solution for the efficient integration of renewable energy into the power grid together with 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW. This truly transformative innovation will fundamentally change the way in which we supply electricity.”
Andreas Schierenbeck, Hitachi Energy CEO: “Hitachi Energy developed HVDC technology 70 years ago, which was a real pioneering achievement. We are pleased to further the expansion of multi-terminal HVDC systems and the introduction of new technologies such as our hybrid HVDC switch in Germany. The integration of large quantities of renewable energy into the national power grids is indispensable for a sustainable energy future. The cooperation with our customers and the most important players in the energy sector is decisive for the realisation of a net-zero energy system.”
Innovation of DC multi-terminal hubs
The DC switchgear with DC circuit breakers are the centrepiece of the implementation of the so-called DC multi-terminal hubs. They enable the efficient use and distribution of very large quantities of wind power from the North Sea coast by linking the DC lines and flexibly bring the energy to where it is used. This creates the first extra high voltage DC line grids, which will bring about a better load distribution of the DC lines while supporting the existing AC grid as a backbone of energy transmission. Thanks to the innovative linking of the power lines, the space needed and the number of new installations is reduced, minimising the impact on the environment and stabilising the energy costs.
The DC circuit breakers as part of the DC switchgear are a technical innovation. In case of a disturbance, they can identify faults in fractions of a second and disconnect the affected areas. The goal of the project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility and profitability of the multi-terminal technology.
Source: 50Hertz
