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A meshed offshore power grid would significantly strengthen the European electritiy market from a financial technical and environmental point of view. The EU project “PROMOTioN” in which the Foundation plays a prominent role, will analyse the positive effects of the development of a common offshore power grid infrastructure, in particular on the basis of meshed high-voltage direct-current transmission technology (HVDC).
Background, project goals and focus
A meshed offshore power grid would significantly strengthen the European electricity market from a financial, technical and environmental point of view. Over the next four years, the EU project “PROMOTioN” (Progress on Meshed HVDC Offshore Transmission Networks) will analyse the positive effects of the development of a common offshore power grid infrastructure, in particular on the basis of meshed high-voltage direct-current transmission technology (HVDC). The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation is a project partner and is responsible in particular for project communication and stakeholder management, including the development of corporate identity and the conception and implementation of online communication.
PROMOTioN aims to develop and realise various technical demonstration systems for HVDC network technology, e.g. DRU (diode rectifier unit), and test HVDC circuit breakers as well as special HVDC rectifier and protection systems. In addition, proposals for regulatory and financial frameworks are to be developed which enable coordinated planning for building an integrated European offshore power grid (roadmap).
At present, this development still entails high costs for converter technology, a lack of technical standards and a lack of experience with electro technical protection and safety systems. In addition, there are still deficits in the legal and regulatory framework at both the national and European level which hinder the establishment of a cross-border offshore gird infrastructure.
Thirty-four partners from 11 European countries participate in the research project. The partners come from the manufacturing industry, grid operators, offshore farm operators and investors, as well as from research, industry networks and non-profit organisations. Within the framework of the project, the approaches to solutions resulting from the project, both in the technological and the regulatory fields, will be presented at workshops and events and will be discussed with the stakeholders. PROMOTioN is the most comprehensive energy research project within the framework of the European research program “Horizon 2020”.
Videos (at Youtube)
Project timeframe and support
January 2016 – September 2020. The project is promoted through the EU research program “Horizon 2020”.
Download Fact Sheet (PDF 1.69 MB)
Contact persons
Jochen Körner: j.koerner@offshore-stiftung.de
Project partner s
Participant short name |
Participant legal name |
Country |
DNV GL |
Kema Nederland BV |
Netherlands |
ABB |
ABB AB |
Sweden |
KU Leuven |
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
Belgium |
KTH |
Kungliga Tekniska hoegskolan |
Sweden |
EirGrid |
EirGrid plc |
Ireland |
SGI |
SuperGrid Institute |
France |
DWG |
Deutsche WindGuard GmbH |
Germany |
MEU |
Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. |
Netherlands |
Svk |
Affärsverket svenska kraftnät |
Sweden |
GE |
Grid Solutions a GE & Alstom joint venture |
United Kingdom |
UniAbdn |
The University Court of the University of Aberdeen |
United Kingdom |
RTE |
Réseau de Transport d'Électricité |
France |
TU Delft |
Technische Universiteit Delft |
Netherlands |
Statoil |
Statoil ASA |
Norway |
TenneT |
TenneT TSO B.V. |
Netherlands |
SOW |
Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE |
Germany |
Siemens |
Siemens AG |
Germany |
DTU |
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet |
Denmark |
RWTH Aachen |
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen |
Germany |
UPV |
Universitat Politècnica de València |
Spain |
FGH |
Forschungsgemeinschaft für. Elektrische Anlagen und Stromwirtschaft e.V. |
Germany |
DONG Energy |
Dong Energy Wind Power A/S |
Denmark |
Carbon Trust |
The Carbon Trust |
United Kingdom |
Tractebel |
Tractebel Engineering S.A. |
Belgium |
EUI |
European University Institute |
Italy |
Iberdrola |
Iberdrola Renovables Energía, S.A. |
Spain |
T&D Europe |
European Association of the Electricity Transmission & Distribution Equipment and Services Industry |
Belgium |
USTRAT |
University of Strathclyde |
United Kingdom |
Adwen |
ADWEN Offshore, S.L. |
Spain |
Prysmian |
Prysmian |
Italy |
RUG |
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen |
Netherlands |
MVOW |
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind AS |
Denmark |
Energinet |
Energinet.dk |
Denmark |
SHE Transmission |
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc |
United Kingdom |