HVDC Interconnectors

[dan_b]

My obsession with HVDC interconnectors continues unabated!

In the news today is that the North Sea Link between the UK and Norway will start testing powerflows through the 720km, 1.4GW interconnection this week, with commissioning due to be complete by October.

I will at some point update my spreadsheet just to keep on top of it all

https://www.ft.com/content/399c1c37-3f7 ... 741df01135

[GarethC]

Ah, a mainstay of the old forum.

This is pretty helpful, isn't it, as Norway's electricity is low carbon due to a lot of hydroelectric, am I right?

[dan_b]

Norway's electricity grid is at least 98% renewable, almost all of which comes from hydro

[dan_b]

Ooh, I get to post another update!

Eleclink, the HVDC interconnector that is routed via the Channel Tunnel - they've actually finally completed the cable pull! Commissioning expected early 2022.

[Tinbum]

We just had a couple of people round last week looking at the habitat for the SEGL2 link.

[dan_b]

700MW of power currently flowing through the North Sea Link in testing...

[nowty]

700MW of power currently flowing through the North Sea Link in testing...

And according to wikapedia, thats ONLY half power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea_Link

So at 700MW and 515kV, I make it about 1,360 Amps.

In comparison my 70mm2 DC home battery cable is good up to around 300A.
But I have to admit, the voltage is a tad lower, like 10,000 times lower and the cable is about 36,000 times shorter.

[dan_b]

Indeed, it's a 1.4GW pipe, as are quite a few of the other HVDCs being built or in planning at the moment. Here's my handy chart!

[dan_b]

Pales into insignificance really compared to what they're doing in China with HVDCs to link their various provinces together.
The Zhundong–Wannan link is 3300km long, runs at 1100kV and transmits 12GW of power. Best not to stick your fingers in that one.

[Stinsy]

Pales into insignificance really compared to what they're doing in China with HVDCs to link their various provinces together.
The Zhundong–Wannan link is 3300km long, runs at 1100kV and transmits 12GW of power. Best not to stick your fingers in that one.

I'd hate to have the headache of how to insulate a million volt plus cable!

Are all these HVDC connections a single conductor referenced to earth at both ends?