During the conference, PROMOTioN partner Prof. Ramon Blasco-Gimenez (University of Valencia, left) delivered a presentation on “Grid forming wind turbine and wind power plant control for black start operation” and joined the following panel discussion during the conference session on “Offshore wind, balancing, inertia and other ancillary services”.
On the first day, 26 November 2019, and parallel to the daily conference programme, project partners hosted a side event on regulatory frameworks and proposed solutions for meshed offshore grid development as analyzed in PROMOTioN work package 7. The event was attended by over 30 experts from associations, academia and industry. PROMOTioN partners called for implementing a harmonized regulatory and economic framework in the countries bordering the North Sea, in order to fully exploit the potential of an offshore HVDC grid. All presentations of the day can be accessed here.
On the 27 November, experts from the project hosted a side event on the technical challenges and solutions concerning the development of HVDC grid technology. Topics of discussion included HVDC Network Control & Protection, HVDC Gas-Insulated Switchgear and DC Circuit Breakers, Converter Impedance Model Validation as well as Black Start Functionality of Offshore Wind Turbines. Again, the event highlighted the need for technical standardization and harmonization to allow for the highest possible level of interoperability of the necessary components and technical equipment. The presentations of the day can be downloaded here.
For the first time, WindEurope organised an “Innovation Park” during the Offshore 2019 conference & exhibition. At this dedicated area in exhibition Hall E, start-ups and innovative projects had the chance to present themselves to the exhibition guests. On all three days, PROMOTioN partners presented regulatory, technical and deployment considerations and concepts at the Innovation Park stage. At the PROMOTioN booth, visitors were informed both about the project itself, its objectives and preliminary results, as well as about the HVDC gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) hardware piece, provided by PROMOTioN partner ABB. As part of the project, the full-scale GIS is undergoing a 14-month stress test at KEMA laboratories in the Netherlands. At the exhibition, Michael Gatzsche (ABB) used the opportunity to elaborate on the functions of the model.
On 28 November, project coordinator Cornelis Plet (DNV GL, second left), Andreas Wagner (Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDNERGIE, left) and Michael Gatzsche (right) welcomed Mr. Patrick Child, Deputy Director DG Research & Innovation of the European Commission, at the PROMOTioN booth and explained the project achievements to date and overall project objectives.
Afterwards, a three-day exhibition and stakeholder interaction of PROMOTioN came to an end. The interest in the project and the upcoming project results has been outstanding, as evidenced by various discussions with stakeholders. PROMOTioN is looking forward to the numerous demonstration events that will take place in the first two quarters of 2020.