Scottish contractor CCG has started building a new technology centre for SSE unit SHE Transmission that will test the use of high voltage direct current (HVDC) in the UK power grid.
The National HVDC Centre in Cumbernauld, the first of its kind in Britain, is scheduled to open in 2017, said SSE.
The facility will be owned and operated by SHE Transmission with funding from Ofgem’s Electricity Network Innovation Competition.
It will provide a testing facility for electricity transmission owners and operators, suppliers, developers and academic institutions to simulate the use of the technology on the UK network.
“There are currently four schemes using HVDC technology connecting to the electricity network of Great Britain, with some currently in construction and many more to come within the next 15 years, creating a very complex system,” National HVDC Centre manager Simon Marshall said.
“The National HVDC Centre will ensure that each of these projects is tested before going live on the electricity network and then supported through their operational life,” he said. “The facility will also be used to train engineers on the complexities of HVDC systems and stimulate innovation within the industry.”
Image: SSE
