Workshop: Direct current technologies: a game-changer for the energy transition
Background
The European Grid Action Plan, adopted on 28 November 2023, by the European Commission, aims to modernize and expand Europe’s electricity grids to support the Green Deal and ensure energy resilience. With electricity demand expected to rise by 60% by 2030 due to increased renewable energy integration, electric vehicles, and decentralized energy systems, the plan focuses on overcoming challenges such as bottlenecks, outdated infrastructure, and lengthy permitting processes.
The EU Solar Energy Strategy, adopted on 18 May 2022 by the European Commission, recognises that increasing the use of DC technologies could be beneficial to the electricity system, as renewable power from solar is produced in Direct Current (DC), and more devices and systems, such as batteries, heat-pumps, data centres, electric vehicles, operate in DC.
While most power systems utilise alternating current for transmission, direct current technologies are seen as a key enabler to realise the energy transition. Direct current is already widely used in applications ranging from photovoltaic, battery, to office equipment, lighting (LED) and industry. Direct current systems benefit from more efficient power transmission, higher resilience of electricity supply, reduced material use for the same power transmission and the ability to transmit vast amounts using underground or undersea connections.
This workshop brings together policy makers, power system operators, direct current technology industry representatives and the research community.
In this workshop, the salient properties of direct current technologies at both high and low voltages, as well as their applications in transmission, distribution and behind-the-meter applications will be discussed. Key stakeholders will engage on the opportunities and outstanding challenges for DC to meet the energy transition needs.
Agenda
- 10:00 – 10:30 Welcoming coffee and registration
- 10:30-10:35 Opening and welcome by Dirk Van Hertem (Chair IWG DC technologies, KU Leuven and Etch EnergyVille)
- 10.35-10.45 Message from the European Commission by Alejandro Ulzurrun de Asanza y Munoz (DG Energy, ENER.B)
- 10:45-11:15 Direct Current Technologies, a key enabling technology for the energy transition: What, why and needs by Dirk Van Hertem (Chair IWG DC technologies, KU Leuven and Etch EnergyVille)
- 11:15-11:55 Panel session 1: Low Voltage Direct Current – industrial opportunities, regulatory framework, innovation needs
– LVDC is at the core of our lives, how to make it an opportunity for EU industry
– How to harmonise the rules applicable to behind-the-meter LVDC installations and address grid code / regulatory barriers
– What are the R&I & demonstration needs? 2
• Moderator: Eric Lecomte (DG Energy, coordinator of the IWG-DC)
• Harry Stokman (DC Expert, IWG-DC co-Chair)
• Stephan Gross (or Carlos Castel), Senior coordinator, EU-DSO entity (tbc)
• Niels Ladefoged (DG Energy, B3)
• Eleonora Riva Sanseverino (U. Palermo)/Angelo L’Abbate (RSE), Italy representatives in IWG-DC - 11:55-12:35 Panel session 2: High Voltage Direct Current – needs and innovation gaps
– How can we ensure that future HVDC transmission infrastructure is properly coordinated, interoperable and integrated at a European level?
– What is needed to address the supply chain and cost issues of HVDC while maintaining technology leadership in Europe?
– What are the R&I & demonstration needs?
• Moderator: Robert Dimitrovski, (Tennet and ENTSO-E RDIC)
• Nicoloas Cutululis, (DTU)
• Riccardo Longo (WindEurope)
• Zuzana Sadlova (DG Energy, C4) (tbc)
• Jan Kostevc (ACER) (tbc)
• Frank Schettler, (Siemens Energy) or Diederik Peereboom, (Secr. General T&D) (tbc) or Volker Wendt (Secr. General, Europacable) (tbc) - 12:35-12:45 Wrap up and way forward
• Harry Stockman
• Dirk Van Hertem
• Eric Lecomte - networking lunch
This project has received funding under the Horizon Europe Programme under grant agreement No 101136182