Reducing Blackout Risk by Segmenting European Power Grid with HVDC Lines

Abstract

The utilization of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines for the segmentation of the European power grid has been demonstrated to be a highly effective strategy for the mitigation of the risk of cascading blackouts. In this study, an accurate and efficient method for determining the optimal power flow through HVDC lines is presented, with the objective of minimizing load shedding. The proposed method is applied to two distinct scenarios: first, the segmentation of the power grid along the Pyrenees, with the objective of segmenting the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe; and second, the segmentation of the power grid into Eastern and Western Europe, approximately in half. In both scenarios, the method effectively reduces the size of blackouts impacting both sides of the HVDC lines, resulting in a 46% and 67% reduction in total blackout risk, respectively. Furthermore, we have estimated the cost savings from risk reduction and the expenses associated with converting conventional lines to HVDC lines. Our findings indicate that segmenting the European power grid with HVDC lines is economically viable, particularly for segmenting the Iberian Peninsula, due to its favorable cost-risk reduction ratio.