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| Reference Number | NIA2_NGET0058 | |
| Title | HVDC Assets Life Cycle Assessment (HVDC - LCA) | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Power and Storage Technologies (Electricity transmission and distribution) 90%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research (Environmental, social and economic impacts) 10%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given National Grid Electricity Transmission |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 April 2024 | |
| End Date | 31 July 2024 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £43,179 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (100.000%) |
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA2_NGET0058 |
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| Objectives | This study is broken down into the following two phases:Phase 1:This work stream will involve discussions with National Grid staff to understand the typical design of current HVDC systems (e.g., Western Link and/or the under development Eastern Green Links). The results will be used to determine the environmental impact, in terms of CO2e emissions, associated with a typical HVDC asset in the UK, consisting of 2 HVDC converter stations connected by a cable (part of which will be subsea cable). DNV will undertake an LCA of one representative HVDC asset, covering the construction of the asset (including raw materials, construction activities and transport) and the typical annual emissions during the operation stage of the asset (including maintenance), calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions at each stage in a life cycle inventory. The LCA will include decommissioning of the sites. In addition to the material provided by NG, DNV will utilize the various ESG (environmental, social and governance) reports provided by OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), either for one specific project or for the whole company to establish the emission baseline of the sample project. DNV will then report the results in terms of CO2e and will add the data outputs from the LCA to the asset carbon data spreadsheet (the template for which is to be provided by National Grid). National Grid will provide the details about a typical, average HVDC asset, which will be used as a representative case for the actual assets being built. To undertake this LCA, DNV will prepare a data request list for National Grid to provide information to support the LCA. Once the data has been received and reviewed, it is proposed that a 1-hour workshop is held between DNV and National Grid to go through the data, highlighting any gaps and to agree any assumptions required.Phase 2: This phase will undertake a more focused analysis on this database specifically targeted at assessing the relevance of this extant body of work to HVDC and include life cycle stage analysis to inform consenting methodology. It will also include a discussion on the nature of the typical installation conditions. Following the completion of the LCA, potential options to improve sustainability and reduce carbon emissions associated with HVDC assets will be identified. The LCA results will be used to determine where the greatest scope for carbon emissions is, and DNV will look at how the emissions can be reduced. This process will be based on DNVs knowledge and experience with HVDC assets and research into potential options to improve sustainability. DNVs HVDC and LCA experts will then assess the options identified to select the most suitable ones to take further. Where possible, potential carbon emissions savings from the identified options will be calculated using the same methodology as used in the LCA. Sustainability improvement options will be identified and included within a register summarising detail of the options and the potential benefits if they could be implemented. The number of sustainability improvements in the register will depend on various factors, including the outcome of the LCA, how many potential options are identified and the scale of any potential benefits, with DNV including as many suitable options as the budget allows. DNV will advise NG if more options are identified than can be covered by the initial budget so that a suitable course of action can be agreed. Thisis a research project to understand the carbon footprint of HVDC and seek to find new opportunities for decarbonisation of these projects. Over the 3-month project with DNV, we will perform asset life cycle assessment study of NGET"s HVDC work and the associated assets to determine the environmental impact regarding the carbon emissions. This study will be limited to normal cross-country HVDC interconnectors excluding the HVDC interconnectors connecting the offshore wind farms. Such limitation would essentially mean the scope would include two onshore HVDC converter stations, the HVDC cable systems (part of which being submarine cables), but not the offshore platforms which host the offshore HVDC converters.The scope of the LCA will be aligned with National Grids requirements, DNV have in-house experience and expertise relating to HVDC assets and the LCA process will involve discussions between the LCA team and those with knowledge of HVDC assets. This will allow the LCA team to discuss specifics relating to the HVDC assets and to determine whether the LCA includes all the relevant components. While data and input for the LCA will be provided by National Grid, this in-house DNV assistance will allow an extra layer of checks to ensure that the LCA covers all necessary parts of the asset and considers its operational phase fully, including any likely replacements and repairs that may be needed during use.Key findings across all deliverables will be presented in a workshop with NGET staff. A discussion on implications for consenting of the projects, opportunities to focus on will be presented and motivated by the results of the study. This project will help us in addressing the optimal whole life cycle criteria with the following objectives:Understanding the asset population health/ criticality definitions and diagnosis.Understanding of specific assets degradation and risk characteristicsLife cycle assessment of one representative HVDC assetDevelopment of sustainability improvements register to find new decarbonisation opportunities Ensure as a business we are adequately addressing environmental impacts of our proposed HVDC projects whilst enabling the transition to Net Zero. | |
| Abstract | High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission systems are generally considered to have lower emissions compared to traditional AC transmission systems. This is because HVDC systems have lower losses and can transmit power over longer distances with less energy loss. However, HVDC systems do require additional equipment such as converters and transformers, which may produce some emissions during their manufacturing and operation. Accurately quantifying and understanding the carbon footprint of HVDC is important from a project consenting perspective to ensure that the transition to net zero through the increased use of interconnector systems does not result in environmental harm. This project will focus on the asset life cycle assessment of HVDC and intends to identify opportunities to focus on and better understanding of the efforts needed to reduce emissions. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 02/10/24 | |
