Standards Development

Scope

This document gives guidelines on the current asset management perspectives for HVDC installations based on best practices of asset owners, operators, users, original equipment manufacturers and regulators within the power industry.

The scope is limited to the DC plant/equipment side of the HVDC system including related AC components of the HVDC converter station. This document covers all equipment of HVDC converter station and electrode station but does not include DC lines and cables.

This document covers HVDC systems with Line-Commutated Converters (LCC) and can be generally applied to Voltage Sourced Converters (VSC), not including specific equipment or sub-equipment required under VSC.

This document provides base guidelines on fundamental aspects and prudent practices to be considered by stake holders in managing HVDC assets. Compliance to additional requirements and recommendations stipulated in this document by the supplier or OEM are non-obligatory, unless explicitly specified by the customer.

Purpose

Background

A Technical Report in the form of a Guidelines on Asset Management of HVDC Installations was developed and published in Nov 2017 as IEC TR 62978 Ed.1. Rather than maintaining it as a 2nd edition, it is proposed that the amended version of TR 62978 Ed.1 be refined, recomposed and structured as a Technical Specifications, taking into account that the contents are mainly based on International Standards on Asset Management and Technical Specifications on HVDC subject matters including the operation, maintenance and performance aspects. The various chapters being proposed is based on established/matured practices and guidelines in the industry, thus giving benefit to HVDC owners, operators and other stake holders by having a structured and coordinated view in the management of HVDC assets.

Moreover, the IEC TR 62978:2017 ED1 included requirements, recommendations and permissions which are no longer allowed in Technical Report according to the ISO/IEC Directives Part 2.

A complete draft report (TR) is appended below which is yet to be edited and refined as a Technical Specifications (TS). As the editing requires considerable work, this has to be left for later. The subject matter (chapters) is as outlined but its contents would be reduced considerably, consistent with a TS.

Market relevance

Owners of an HVDC station or installation can benefit from this work by setting common policy and practices that aligns with the business strategy and needs of the organisation that it represents, through an established asset management framework which includes life cycle activities, risk profiling and regulatory framework.

Operational aspects including the operation and maintenance, reliability and availability, documentations and records and the needs on training aspects, etc, are spelt out to give a complete picture in managing the HVDC installation.

Technical and operational matters in running the HVDC installation takes precedence and are aligned to good asset management practices. Through this technical specification, the operation and coordination of HVDC installations can be optimised according to a set parameter that are aligned to the industry best practices.

It presents an option to standardise the operation and management of HVDC installations.