Towards Resilient hybrid Medium and Low Voltage AC-DC Power Grids – A European Perspective

Resilient hybrid Alternating Current (AC)-Direct Current (DC) power grids are discussed as a potential future solution for distribution power grid flexibilization to enable connecting a high-share of renewable sources (photovoltaic, wind), new DC-based loads (electric vehicles, heat-humps), and storages instead of cost and carbon emissions-intensive AC standard grid solutions (new cables and power transformers) for grid reinforcement when existing grid parts come to their capacity and power quality limits and also for new installations. This work identifies main drivers and technology requirements, important use-cases, standardization, regulatory, and market needs. It introduces as examples the actual running European demonstration projects HYPERRIDE and TIGON funded by the European Commission and highlights their common positioning and future activities/developments on the topic of hybrid AC-DC power grids based on their description of work and the findings of other international DC-grid initiatives like actual published CIRED WG-2019-1 “DC distribution networks” report and CIRED 2021 Round Table “DC networks” results which are also summarized.