High Voltage Substation Equipment
![Alain Girodet, Department Director – High Voltage Substation Equipment](https://www.supergrid-institute.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/alain-girodet-supergrid-institute-2024.jpg)
“In the High Voltage Substation Equipment research department, we respond to the constraints of DC networks whilst respecting the environment.”
Alain Girodet, Department Director – High Voltage Substation Equipment
We develop substation technologies to respond to the constraints of future DC networks as well as those of current AC networks. This includes using circuit breakers to clear fault currents from meshed DC networks, as well as developing interconnection nodes to transfer energy. Our circuit breaker technologies and protection strategies are designed to reduce the cost of infrastructure and preserve the stability and availability of the network.
Gas-insulated switchgear is essential to networks, yet it is currently highly dependent on sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) – at the top of the list of greenhouse gasses – as the insulating medium. We study, model and optimise alternatives for gas-insulated switchgear. In addition, we research and implement new solid and gas insulation systems to provide enhanced electrical performance and resilience whilst maintaining low environmental impact.
![High Voltage dielectric testing facilities in France.](https://www.supergrid-institute.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/supergrid-institute-high-voltage-substation-programme.jpg)
![High Voltage Substation Equipment](https://www.supergrid-institute.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/supergrid-institute-high-voltage-substation-dc-gis.jpg)
To validate performance, we rely on SuperGrid Institute’s dielectric and power test laboratories. The characterisation platform enables us to define insulating material properties.
Our research projects include:
Recent publications
Impact of renewable energy generation on power reserve energy demand
This work focuses on analysing the relationship between reserve energy demand and load, wind, and solar generation.
Superconducting Cable Modelling into Electro-Magnetic Transient Simulation
The European project SCARLET aims to study and realize a demonstrator of a MVDC high-power superconducting cable.
Fault detection and location in floating windfarms with fishbone inter-array architecture
This article focuses on the development of a traveling wave-based protection strategy to enhance the fault-locating capabilities of the array grid’s protection system.