TenneT Drafts New Offshore Grid Rules in Germany

TenneT has presented a first draft of new offshore grid connection rules (O-NAR) in Germany. 

BorWin Alpha, the converter platform of the BorWin1 grid connection (Image source: Petrofac/ archive)

The new European regulations must be aligned with existing technical rules. TenneT said that it had been able to contribute its expertise in this area due to complex operating experience in the field of offshore grid connections.

“This document combines the European requirements with the already known technical rules for the grid connection (NAR and ASN) as well as the established technical specifications of TenneT for the connection of offshore wind parks in the course of optimisation and” Lessons Learned ” A joint document,” said Wilfried Breuer, a member of the TenneT management team.

A comprehensive, preliminary consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders, including the operators of offshore wind farms, the Association of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Information Technology (VDE), and other transmission system operators, will begin next.

As a result of the publication of new European regulations – Requirements for Generators (RfG) as well as High Voltages Direct Current Connection Code (HVDCC CC) last year, TenneT had begun to implement this new requirement for its own offshore network. As a result, the draft amendment to the follow-up rules could now be prepared and presented.

In addition, the findings from past operational years on the subject of harmonic stability as well as a new voltage control concept have been incorporated into the new O-NAR.

In particular, the experience gained from the BorWin1 project provides important input for technical specification in this context, whereby the transmission network operator TenneT makes a proactive contribution to advance and optimise grid connection rules to the general benefit of all future offshore grid connections.

“With the early publication of the O-NAR draft, TenneT intends to ensure collaboration and coordination with potential network operators to rapidly market new technologies and accelerate future consultation processes,” Breuer stressed.

In autumn 2017, TenneT plans to organise a workshop for the joint discussion of the new requirements with all stakeholders. Parallel to the internal creation of the O-NAR, the VDE Forum Network Technology / Network Operation (FNN) will continue to take place with the other transmission network operators.

Following the consultation process by the VDE at national level in 2017/2018, TenneT will publish the first official version of O-NAR.