DC Switchyard Configurations for the Integration of Distributed Energy Resources

Abstract

HVDC supergrid must grow in an organized way. The objective of HVDC substations will be to integrate generation groups and occasionally connect them to the AC network. That way, all substations will not be identical and their relevance will not be the same. In AC substations, network topological changes are made to limit the short circuit current contributions, perform load distributions and allow maintenance work when the application of restrictions is necessary, without compromising generation. These maintenance tasks should allow the exploitation of the network without making concessions on the stability of the system. DC networks do not require topological changes in the network to distribute loads, its utility would be reduced to facilitate maintenance tasks and minimize the possible effects of faults. However, it must be discussed which is the most suitable switchyard or whether more than one switchyard are required such as in AC networks. In the paper the usual topologies and switchyard configurations are analyzed and compared to determine if the architectures inherited from the AC grids can be used in the future HVDC supergrid. Several DC switchyard configurations are also discussed. Finally, the most suitable configurations are compared and applied to a study case.