Research Engineer in Ac/dc Power System Stability

Established in 2014, SuperGrid Institute is an independent private company with over 150 employees of 21 different nationalities. The institute is a key player for energy transition in France and throughout Europe, specialising in innovative high and medium voltage direct current (HVDC and MVDC) power systems. SuperGrid Institute also develops new technologies for the integration of renewable energies into the electricity networks of the future.

SuperGrid Institute has been ranked every year since 2018, reaching the podium 3 times in the INPI prize list.

**Position Context**

As part of Horizon Europe projects, HVDC-Wise project explores concepts and proposes solutions to foster the development of large HVDC based transmission grid infrastructures, able to bring benefits in terms of resilience and reliability to the existing electrical system and capable of integrating the forthcoming large amount of renewable energy. Proposing innovative HVDC-based grid architecture concepts (topology, technologies, and operational algorithms), will allow HVDC systems to increase the resilience and reliability (R&R) of AC/DC systems and minimize the impacts of HVDC vulnerabilities. To achieve this goal, a set of expected HVDC functional requirements (such as “firewalls” limiting the impact of disturbances) will be proposed at the beginning of the project based on TSOs' experience with HVDC, including encountered or expected issues. To meet the functional requirements, innovations will be made in terms of topology, technological components used, and operational algorithms (control and protection functionalities). The HVDC-based grid architecture proposals will be evaluated and compared through techno-economic assessment (TEA) based on proposed metrics on simplified test systems representing specific R&R problems.

Besides coordinating the HVDC-Wise project and leading WP4 “Enabling technologies for future AC/DC hybrid systems”, SuperGrid Institute will also have a major role in WP3 “Concept architectures for reliable and resilient AC/DC systems”. WP3 lays the foundation for the targeted innovation in the project. Intensive research will be performed to identify and propose technological solutions (i.e., controls and protection algorithms as well as HVDC grid configurations) allowing to optimize the benefits of the HVDC in terms of R&R of the AC/DC system. Proof of concepts of the proposed solutions will be performed on simplified test systems for a first evaluation. The solutions proposed in this work package will be further implemented in realistic use cases using industrially relevant environments in WP6 and WP7 as to reach TRL5-6.

Task 3.2: Control for AC/DC architectures

Control (re)actions occurring during disturbance (firewall-oriented mitigation) period will be evaluated based on RMS and EMT simulations, conducted under a parametric sensitivity analysis. The need of coordinated control will be investigated regarding the transition from the pre-disturbance (prevention) period and towards the post disturbance (recovery) period in order to ascertain ways to manage adaptability and resiliency across the control stages. Finally, the investigated control strategies will be assessed to reflect on their advantages, boundaries, and implementation requirements.

Task 3.3: Protection concepts for AC/DC architectures

Based on EMT simulations, using simplified test systems, the different protection schemes will be evaluated using the criteria defined within the project. Then, novel HVDC-supporting technologies (DC/DC converters and storage devices) will be used to propose novel protection schemes, and their impact on resilience criteria will be assessed. In a next step, novel concepts for the coordination between the proposed DC protection schemes and AC devices as to contain severe incidents for defence against the loss of the AC/DC system integrity will be proposed and evaluated. In a last step, the vulnerabilities of the protection schemes face to cyber-events will be identified, assessed and recommendations to minimise their impact will be provided.

Engineering degree (Master 2) or PhD degree.

Experience in the field HVDC/MTDC protection system.

Background on AC/DC power system stability

Focus on HVDC systems.
- Technical skills:

- Modelling, analysis and control of power systems
- MMC converter controls
- Multi-terminal HVDC system control and protection
- Modelling, and design of protection systems
- Wide area control systems
- Technical lead skills:

- Ability to propose and adjust collaborative approach methodology and decision-making process
- Ability to structure activities and planning in a pragmatic and efficient manner
- Excellent synthesis skills.
- Ability to interact with HVDC and HVDC protection and control experts,
- Other skills:

- Good command of English language
- Ability to lead teamwork
- Good communication skills
- Organizational skills