Grid-Forming Operation of the HVDC Tyrrhenian Link-East for Improved Frequency Transients

Abstract

The paper examines the possibility of operating the VSC (Voltage Source Converter)-based HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) Tyrrhenian Link-East with grid-forming capabil-ities. The investigations are focused on the frequency transients, and on the possible contribution which can be provided by the Tyrrhenian Link-East to the system. This infrastructure has a strategic importance, and it is designed to support the energy transition enabling a greater integration of renewable energy sources. The dynamic analysis is performed on a simplified 10-bus simulation model of the continental Italian transmission system linked to an equivalent Sicilian network, and it examines different types of contingencies. The results preliminarily suggest that the Tyrrhenian Link-East can effectively contribute to the frequency control of the system, and that the grid-forming capability represents a valid opportunity for the operation of the VSC-HVDC converters of the link.