Power Electronics is enabling radical transformation in the power grid and, in particular, it is opening the opportunity for a massive application of DC technology. DC technology will increase the overall flexibility and efficiency of the infrastructure. Nevertheless, this innovation comes with challenges in terms of interoperability when we consider networks with multi-vendors. The concrete case of off-shore wind farms is then the starting point for the transformation. READY4DC will create the right conditions to establish a community of experts that will discuss all the implications of the process both from a technical and a legal perspective. Thanks to the work of a set of working groups with open participation, position papers will be produced to create the proper conditions for consensus paving the way towards changes in the regulation and in the legal framework. The results of this work will impact not only the off-shore use cases but, in principle, all the application of power electronics driven grids and at every voltage level, determining a very important step towards a futuristic infrastructure in which DC will play a central role at every level.

The PROSECCO project brings direct advancements to the maturity level of HVDC grids. Doing so, it aids in realizing Europe's climate goals for 2050. Meshed HVDC grids is a key technology to integrate offshore wind and to upgrade the European power system. As such, the future power system will be a hybrid AC/DC grid where the HVDC grid seamlessly integrates with AC systems. PROSECCO addresses innovation needs in grid protection near HVDC converters and congestion management for hybrid AC/DC grids. PROSECCO utilises Model Based System engineering to have a consistent approach that is vendor neutral from design. It will advance research on (HVDC) grid protection, focusing on harmonized specifications, improved testing, multi-vendor integration, enhancing grid stability and selective protection. In congestion management, the project develops power flow schedulers, power flow control hardware, and holistic cost-benefit analysis tools. PROSECCO will mature hybrid AC/DC grids through 4 different demonstrators across three EU member states, namely (1) unique test equipment for DC relays (2) DC protection relays being installed in actual DC grids (3) a full scale DC power flow controller and (4) software to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of protection and congestion management solutions. The project also contributes to international standardization and builds confidence in TSOs, educates power system engineers, and provides recommendations to ENTSO-E.

HVDC-Wise project explores concepts and proposes solutions to foster the development of large HVDC based transmission grid infrastructures, able to bring benefits in terms of resilience and reliability to the existing electrical system and capable of integrating the forthcoming large amount of renewable energy. To do so, 5 ambitious specific objectives in line with the HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-02-08 call expectations were selected: -Develop a complete reliability-&-resilience-oriented planning toolset (metrics, methodology, tools) with appropriate representation of future HVDC-based grid architecture concepts to fulfil TSOs’ resilience and reliability needs. -Propose and compare on generic cases, different HVDC-based grid architecture concepts fulfilling functional requirements relative to TSO’s resilience needs for the widespread AC/DC system. -Validate resilience-oriented planning toolset and the HVDC-based grid architecture concepts on three realistic use cases. -Identify, assess, and model emerging technologies for HVDC-based grid architecture concepts needed for the deployment of widespread AC/DC transmission grids. -Prepare for the adoption and deployment of the proposed solutions by the industry. HVDC-Wise is a multidisciplinary project engaging 14 partners from 11 countries covering the academic (5), TSOs (4) and industrial worlds (5). An implementation plan is presented in the form of 8 work packages, 6 of which are technical in nature. Synergy in communication and dissemination by the several partners and stakeholders will permit to maximize the HVDC-Wise project impact. Solutions to overcome the fundamental technological barriers as well as appropriate deliverables, tasks, milestones, and risks to complete the project objectives in due time are presented. HVDC-Wise proposes, designs, and validates HVDC-based grid architecture concepts enabling the deployment of reliable, resilient widespread AC/DC transmission grids to achieve the European energy transition.

To unlock multi-vendor HVDC grids and foster the transition of the European energy sector at large scale, InterOPERA proposes a coordinated approach between a diverse, high-level group of industries at the forefront of RES development and grid management. 4 HVDC vendors, 8 TSOs, 2 wind turbine vendors and 3 wind park developers bring their industrial knowledge and practical abilities to make future HVDC systems mutually compatible and interoperable by design, and to improve the grid forming capabilities of offshore and onshore converters. Foreseen and planned HVDC projects will be analysed to define a demonstrator case study. The resulting system-level design will be usable as a guidance to coordinate offshore network planning. This new way of framing the European grid architecture and topology will ensure forward compatibility for future seamless system expansion. Interoperability of control and protection systems will be de-risked through the execution of all necessary activities concurring to the implementation of a real-time physical demonstrator. Concrete results will be delivered through this practical work: detailed functional specifications for each subsystem, standardised models, simulation platforms and interaction study processes, multi-vendor cooperation agreements. Those frameworks will be generalised into operational and strategic tools available to all European stakeholders for the development of multi-terminal HVDC grids that will enhance offshore wind development and integration. Solutions for multi-vendor project procurement, compliant with existing and future regulations, standards and laws, integrating the technical specifications and interoperability assessment tender stages, will be provided to pave the way to the first real-life projects in Europe. External stakeholders will be involved in two-way consultation workshops to maximise the uptake of InterOPERA’s key exploitable results. Recommendations to grid codes and standards will be issued.