Introduction: SHE Transmission together with National Grid Electricity Transmission Limited (NGET) and Scottish Power Transmission Limited (SPT) is proposing to establish a collaborative facility which will enable the planning, development and testing of high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission solutions in GB.

This facility is known as the Multi-Terminal Test Environment (MTTE); it will house: a real-time simulator system (which simulates HVDC schemes), IT infrastructure and accommodation for replica HVDC control panels.

The anticipated proliferation of HVDC systems in GB during RIIO-T1 and beyond is largely being driven by the increasing penetration of renewable generation. To date, there is limited experience in GB of the design, construction and operation of HVDC systems.

Objectives:

• Support Transmission Planning of HVDC schemes

• Improve Requirement Specification of HVDC schemes

• Facilitate Multi-Terminal HVDC solutions

• Facilitate Competition and Multi-Vendor HVDC schemes

• De-risk Control interactions between co-located and electrically connected converters, and with other active controlled equipment

• Train Transmission Planning and Operational Engineers

• Undertake Post commissioning scenario planning and operational optimisation.