Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and DNV have confirmed they are working together to develop a high voltage direct current (HVDC) grid connection plan to deliver large-scale offshore wind power to South Korea
As technical advisor for the project, which is due to be completed in 2025, DNV will develop a conceptual design and routeing plan to enable the integration of large-scale offshore wind capacity to the grid. Suitable analysis models of offshore network systems will be proposed to investigate the optimal topology and design standards for the offshore system.
South Korea has set a goal of deriving 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2030. The wind energy industry is growing rapidly, supported by a policy ambition to increase wind’s share of the country’s energy mix to 6% by 2030.
In February 2021, the South Korean government presented an 8.2-GW and KRW48.5Tn (US$43.2Bn) mega-project that, when completed in 2030, would become the world’s largest single offshore wind development. However, grid integration has to be worked on in parallel to the development of the windfarms.
KEPCO aims to expand its network along the western coast of South Korea and deliver power from offshore windfarms close to demand centres in the country’s capital, Seoul.
DNV will develop system analysis models to study the design specification and optimal topology for GW-scale HVDC transmission technology to improve system acceptability and transmit capacity from offshore windfarms to shore. DNV will also provide an estimate of the costs of the proposed integration plan, to minimise the investment required.
DNV’s detailed work scope includes collecting and analysing offshore wind data; preparing a conceptual design of the power collecting element (bus) for windfarms; drafting functional specifications for AC/DC converter stations; analysing the impact of the offshore DC system on the onshore AC system; reviewing environmental and code limitations for the network routeing and delivering a detailed design of the multi-terminal DC system including the converter topology, location and control/operational strategy.
DNV vice president and regional director energy systems Asia Pacific Brice Le Gallo said, “Globally, an increasing number of offshore wind projects utilising HVDC technology have been implemented or are being planned. We are delighted to be supporting KEPCO with this major technical challenge. The Asia Pacific market is showing increased interest in HVDC technology with a wave of offshore wind projects set to drive the region’s energy transition.”
DNV project manager Dr Yang Byeong Mo said, “It has taken a year of detailed discussions to define the scope of this project. It will require close co-operation with our European power grids team, which will lead to technology improvements and boost our understanding of grid integration.”
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