Electrical interconnection offshore : the benefits and the limitations. Discussion

This paper describes the potential benefits of offshore electrical interconnection. These benefits have to be offset against the practical limitations imposed on such an interconnection due to cable charging currents and the potential for harmonic resonances. As an alternative to ac interconnection, the use of Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) transmission is presented. Computer simulations are used to assess the usefulness of this new technology in comparison with conventional ac interconnection of offshore installations.