THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (UNIMAN)

MANCHESTER, UK

UNIMAN website: https://www.scieng.manchester.ac.uk/tomorrowlabs/high-voltage-lab/

General information about UNIMAN

The University of Manchester (UNIMAN), a world-class reputation in discovering and pioneering solutions in electrical power transmission systems. UNIMAN’s capability in electricity transmission network assets revolves around the new 450 m2 high-voltage (HV) laboratory, the largest of its kind in the UK and equipped with facilities that test up to 600 kV DC, 800 kV AC, and 2 MV impulse, which covers most transmission system voltages in Europe.

UNIMAN role in the project & main tasks

UNIMAN is the coordinator of DCDYNAMIC, leading the project management of the programme (WP9). UNIMAN will also be leading WP2: upscaling investigations using model DC cables and will be responsible for laboratory scale experiments to evaluate the electrical treeing characteristics under combined mechanical and electrical stresses under static and dynamic mechanical load conditions utilizing the HV laboratory. In addition, UNIMAN will be involved in activities related to the recycling of HVDC cables (WP6), namely in the characterisation and processing of XLPE and substrate preparation and catalytic unzipping of XLPE.

UNIMAN Team

UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA (UPC)

BARCELONA, SPAIN

UPC website: https://www.upc.edu/en
CITCEA website: https://citcea.upc.edu/en

General information about UPC

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) is a leading technical university in Spain, renowned for its excellence in engineering and science, bolstered by strong industry connections. Within UPC, CITCEA-UPC stands out as a world-class research and tech transfer centre, specialising in modern power systems and power electronics. With advanced laboratories and a multidisciplinary team, it drives innovation in renewable energy, smart grids, and industrial electronics, bridging academia and industry.

UPC role in the project & main tasks:

UPC is leading the WP3 and is responsible for developing new condition monitoring and fault location techniques for DC dynamic cables to reduce downtime, maximise cable availability, and enable earlier failure predictions.
UPC’s main tasks include:

• Developing new DC dynamic cable condition monitoring methods based on electrical measurements
• Creating new transient models for cables
• Innovating fault location methods for dynamic cables using AI
• Designing new converter control/modulation techniques for fault location and diagnosis

UPC Team

SKOWRONNEK & BECHNAK GMBH (S&B)

HAMBURG, GERMANY

S&B website: https://www.sbadvisors.de/

General information about S&B

Skowronnek & Bechnak GmbH International Risk and Insurance Advisors (S&B) with 30+years and 90+projects of experience are experts in risk mitigation and insurability of new technologies focused especially on floating offshore wind and interconnectors, helping projects achieve an enhanced level of insurance coverage which is a prerequisite for external financing and projects feasibility.

S&B role in the project & main tasks

S&B is leading information dissemination WP7, engaging in a dialogue with the insurance community to convey information on the DC dynamic technology being developed and tested to help insurers gain trust, and compiling an insurance benefit package and lenders technical advisers’ information package to share substantial and reliable information on the new technology to help it qualify for an enhanced level of insurance coverage and financing, incl. reduction in premium in longer term by 25%, thereby driving the construction of floating offshore wind farms.

S&B Team

UNIVERSITAT WIEN (UNIVIE)

VIENA, AUSTRIA

University of Vienna: https://www.univie.ac.at/
Institute of Materials Chemistry & Research: https://mc.univie.ac.at/

General information about UNIVIE

The University of Vienna (UNIVIE) is the largest University in Austria and the oldest in the German-speaking. UNIVIE comprises 15 faculties and 5 centres, covering almost the entire spectrum of science. The Faculty of Chemistry, which is staffed by 63 academics (Lecturers to Full-Professors), excels in organic chemistry, materials innovation and sustainable research. Within the Faculty, the Institute of Materials Chemistry and Research specialises in the development, production and analysis of polymer-based high-performance composites and porous materials. By combining experimental and theoretical approaches, it addresses global challenges such as sustainability and resource efficiency with state-of-the-art facilities and strong industrial collaborations, resulting in an inspiring environment for education and innovation, preparing students for impactful careers in science and technology.

ROLE IN UNIVIE role in the project & main tasks

Within DCDYNAMIC, UNIVIE will lead the research on the chemical aspects of the cross-linking mechanisms used in XLPE products in order to develop a sustainable and economic recycling process leading to a circular economy of used cable materials. The main tasks are the development of suitable homogeneous metal-organic catalysts, the engineering of XLPE recycling, and the discovery of novel catalytic systems for polymer degradation.

UNIVIE Team

General information about NKT

LYCKEBY, SWEDEN

NKT website:  https://www.nkt.com/

General information about NKT

NKT connects a greener world with high-quality power cable technology and takes centre stage as the world moves towards green energy. NKT designs, manufactures and installs low-, medium- and high-voltage power cable solutions enabling sustainable energy transmission. NKT’s Solutions business line is focused on developing complete high-voltage cable systems, supporting our customers in developing and upgrading global grids. Within the high-voltage domain, NKT supplies solutions for interconnectors, offshore wind and power-from-shore amongst many other applications.

NKT role in the project & main tasks

In WP4, NKT will be responsible for defining technical requirements for the combined testing of a high-voltage DC dynamic cable. To assist in this undertaking there will be studies of global analysis, literature studies, etc, in order to describe a test program that simulates actual application and describe which means to use to find possible abnormalities.

In WP5, NKT will produce a test object that will be sent to NKT’s testing facility in Sweden. Further, at the same facility NKT will be responsible for developing a suitable dynamic mechanical fatigue test rig and ultimately to test cables above 20 metres in length according to what was agreed upon within WP4.

NKT Team

PNO Innovation GmbH (PNO)

MUNICH, GERMANY

PNO website: https://www.arttic-innovation.de/en/

General information about PNO: 

PNO Innovation is a service provider specialized in funding, innovation, and project management services. PNO Innovation is part of the PNO Group, Europe’s leading consultancy for public funding and innovation, with a presence in 10 countries and a team of more than 600 professionals. PNO is embedded in a global network of diverse and dynamic partners, including multinationals, SMEs, start-ups, research and technology organizations (RTOs), universities, sector associations, public institutions, and EU-funded consortia Innovation. 

PNO role in the project & main tasks

In close cooperation with both the industrial and research partners, PNO leads the communication and dissemination activities in WP8. Furthermore, PNO supports S&B and the project partners in the activities related to stakeholder engagement and impact generation (WP7). In addition, PNO supports UNIMAN and the whole consortium through WP9 in the daily management and administrative tasks to ensure the collaboration is working efficiently, the project is properly monitored, and decisions and actions are prepared and taken according to the project progress. PNO will provide methods, tools, and operational support for the collaboration within the consortium, simplifying the work of the Research, Development, and Innovation staff as much as possible.

PNO Team

ETH Zurich (ETHZ)

ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND

ETHZ website: https://hvl.ee.ethz.ch/

General information about ETHZ

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich was founded in 1855 and is the leading Swiss university in the areas of natural sciences and engineering, with about 20,000 students from over 120 countries and 6000 staff. ETH Zürich regularly appears at the top of international rankings as one of the best universities in the world. 21 Nobel Laureates have studied, taught or conducted research at ETH Zürich, underlining the excellent reputation of the university.

The High Voltage Laboratory is a world-renown research group with excellent expertise in the areas of gaseous and solid insulation, swithching arcs and overhead power line corona.

ETHZ role in the project & main tasks

ETHZ will lead WP1 on the fundamental understanding of aging and treeing mechanisms. They will perform extensive experimental campaigns and work to derive quantitative aging models and design guidelines to ensure optimal and reliable dynamic cable designs.

ETHZ Team

SHELL RESEARCH LIMITED (SHELL-UK)

London, UK

SHELL RESEARCH LIMITED website: https://www.shell.com/

General information about SHELL RESEARCH LIMITED

From offshore wind turbines to oil and gas platforms, reliable dynamic power cables are an important technology for energy infrastructure, with an important role to play in the energy transition.

ROLE IN DC DYNAMIC

With a wealth of experience in the energy industry, Shell brings a significant amount of expertise, from polymer manufacturing to the design of complex floating structures and associated risers/umbilicals. Shell has partnered with Stiesdal Technology, RWE and TEPCO on a floating foundation demonstrator (Tetraspar) project in Europe and supports a global portfolio of projects, assisting with feasibility studies, turbine layout optimisation, fatigue life analysis of tethers for floating structures, dynamic and static cable analysis, and HVDC converter control/simulation.

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