19. Currents of Change: Unravelling the Future of HVDC (1/2)

Redefining Energy - TECH

In this episode of the podcast, host Michael Barnard welcomes Cornelis Plet, Vice President for Power Systems Advisory at DNV North America. Cornelis, nicknamed 'Case', shares his journey from the Netherlands to studying electrical engineering in Germany and London, and his involvement in offshore wind projects with Shell.
He further discusses his Ph.D. in inverter-controlled resources in distribution grids and his role in HVDC transmission projects at DNV, particularly the Promotion project aimed at developing an HVDC network in the North Sea.
The podcast then delves into DNV's expansion from classifying seagoing vessels to diverse sectors including energy systems, where they provide independent engineering services and technical advice for renewable and storage plants.
Cornelis and Michael discuss the competitive landscape of the industry, highlighting DNV's position against firms like Black & Veatch, WSP, and Lloyd's Register. A significant part of the conversation focuses on the advantages of HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) over HVAC (High Voltage Alternating Current) for long-distance energy transmission.
They explore the technical challenges and cost implications of HVDC technology, including the development of DC circuit breakers and the integration challenges between different vendors' systems.