Performance of hybrid power park technologies in future OFTO networks with the aim to achieve grid-forming capability

There has been considerable interest in convertor solutions which to a greater or lesser extent mimic the behaviour of synchronous machines, thus overcoming many of the disadvantages of the existing technology which are potentially destabilizing at high penetration. These solutions are frequently referred to as Grid Forming Convertors (GFC). For offshore installations, where some equipment is on shore, locating equipment offshore is more expensive and carries greater commercial risks, requiring extensive testing and confidence building prior to deployment in real applications. This is time consuming and particularly significant for GB and where there are significant quantities of offshore generation. Onshore solutions to stability are therefore desirable for Off-Shore Transmission Owners (OFTOs) and might also be applied by retrofitting to existing conventional converter plant. Consequently, NG ESO and UoS embarked on a project to investigate hybrid solutions for offshore networks where the STATCOM onshore is replaced by alternative options such as synchronous compensator and VSM converter of similar or appropriate rating with the aim of achieving Grid-Forming capability.