Established in 2014, SuperGrid Institute is an independent private company with over 150 employees of 21 different nationalities. The institute is a key player for energy transition in France and throughout Europe, specialising in innovative high and medium voltage direct current (HVDC and MVDC) power systems. SuperGrid Institute also develops new technologies for the integration of renewable energies into the electricity networks of the future.
SuperGrid Institute has been ranked every year since 2018, reaching the podium 3 times in the INPI prize list.
Find out more by visiting our website: www.supergrid-institute.com
General Context
Integration of large amount of renewable energy sources (RES) (e.g., offshore wind, PV) and energy market integration are two of the main drivers for the future development of the pan-European power grid. This will require a reinforcement of the transmission grid to make it able to transport large amount of power over long distances from generation areas to load areas. Extended High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) grids, in Point to point or Multi-Terminal (MTDC) configuration covering large areas and distances, are considered to be the preferable solution for the reinforcement of the grid. Indeed, it has been understood that MTDC grids based on voltage source converter (VSC) technology are a key development for harnessing the offshore wind production potential of the North Seas. Those systems will be evolving from simple point to point and radial structures to complex meshed ones. To achieve their development, it is necessary to enhance their operating procedures with major challenges in control and protection, while considering the interoperability aspect of multi vendors MTDC grids.
Position Context
Achieving multi-vendor multi-terminal HVDC interoperability is identified as a key target by the European Commission. The Horizon Europe InterOPERA project proposal is a unique initiative to define and validate the appropriate HVDC Interoperability frameworks, through the development of a Demonstrator. It encompasses functional design and specification frameworks, control and protection subsystems integration test frameworks, cooperation frameworks, procurement frameworks. The Demonstrator development consists of the specification, engineering development and HIL (Hardware-In-the-Loop) integration test of the full control system of a multi-terminal HVDC grid with sub-systems provided by at least three HVDC manufacturers. This is a four-year project gathering 21 partners (Transmission System Operators, Off-Shore Wind developers, HVDC converter manufacturers, Off-shore wind turbine manufacturers.
Missions
Being a member of a dedicated team of 2-3 engineers in MTDC control and protection, you mission will fall in the following tasks:
Participation to the development of DC Grid functional framework
Starting from the functional specifications of the CENELEC standard, the development of the functional framework for HVDC Grid Systems will be based on “Model-based System Engineering methodology”, which constitute an enabler for the necessarily collaborative development process between participants towards a multivendor setup:
Participation to the development of HVDC Grid System functional requirements
Using the functional framework as a baseline with the assignment of functions and responsibilities to sub-systems, the respective HVDC Grid modules, functional requirements and the interfaces between modules will be further discussed and defined. The distribution of functions across different subsystems will be optimized to minimize the complexity of interfaces. The functional requirements are expected to comprise requirements on the expected ratings of the converters, earthing and layout, control modes, dynamic performance, signals exchanged, start-up and shutdown procedure, protection strategies, fault-ride-through capability.
Participation to the development DC grid virtual mockup
Some of the control and protection functions are at the DC network level and others at the converter station or component level. Based on the models provided by the teams/colleagues working on MTDC networks, a complete virtual mock-up of the DC network, including the control and protection pre-designs, will be implemented in an off-line EMT simulation environment. The main objective of this mock-up will be to validate the definition of the functional framework and the development of the requirements.
Profil
Engineering degree (Master 2) or PhD degree.
Focus on HVDC systems.
- Technical skills:
o MMC converter controls
o Multi-terminal HVDC system control and protection
o Functional analysis, modelling, and design of control systems
o Wide area control system and telecommunication
o Functional design process and methodology
o EMT simulations
- Other skills:
o Good command of English language
o Teamwork ability
o Good communication skills
o Organizational skills