The ACDC Global 2025 conference was an exciting opportunity for Etch to share knowledge, present cutting-edge research, and engage with industry experts on the future of HVDC technology. Over several days, our team delivered tutorials, participated in industry panels, and presented groundbreaking research through papers, posters, and live demonstrations.
Key Highlights from ACDC Global 2025
Expert Tutorial on HVDC System Innovations
Our presence at the conference kicked off with an engaging tutorial session on Transmission System Innovations (AC and DC): Frequency Domain Techniques to Manage HVDC Interactions. Held on Monday, 17 March, this session featured experts from Etch, EnergyVille, KU Leuven, and TenneT. Participants gained hands-on experience with cutting-edge frequency domain techniques, addressing key challenges in HVDC interactions.
Industry Panels with Dirk Van Hertem
On Wednesday 19 March our director, Dirk Van Hertem, contributed to two industry panels in the main auditorium, engaging in discussions on pressing topics in HVDC development: Research and Innovation Needs for DC Technology and Energy Islands.
Both panels provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of HVDC technology, emphasizing the role of innovation in shaping the future of energy transmission.
Cutting-edge paper presentations: including Best Paper Award
Our researchers presented key findings across various HVDC topics, contributing to the ongoing discourse on system modeling, performance assessment, and technological advancements.
- Evaluation of Interactions between Bipolar HVDC Connections with Grid-Forming Converters – Francesco Giacomo Puricelli
- Dynamic Performance Assessment of Dual Grid-Forming Control for HVDC Systems – Dongyeong Lee
- State Estimation in Unbalanced AC/DC Networks – Dirk Van Hertem
- Techno-Economic Comparison of Preventive DC-Side Decoupling and DC Circuit Breakers in Offshore MTDC Grids – Merijn Van Deyck
The first paper won the Best Written Paper Award, with the highest score from peer-review.
Posters & research insights
Our poster sessions covered various aspects of system modeling, converter control, and grounding techniques, showcasing the depth and breadth of Etch’s research contributions:
- #8 Simplification Conditions for MMCs – Eros Avdiaj
- #55 MMC Current Controller Design – Jan Kircheis
- #103 Transient Phenomena in Bipolar VSC-HVDC Systems – Hanwei Li
- #108 Grounding Techniques for Multi-Terminal HVDC Systems – Manika Khadka
Live demos: bringing theory to practice
We brought research to life with interactive demonstrations at our booth. Attendees explored:
- Real-Time HIL Validation for MMC Controller Design
- Protection Relay Demo: MMC Control Influence on Distance Protection
- Open-Source Frequency-Domain Tools to Avoid Control Interactions
Looking ahead
Our presence at ACDC Global 2025 underscored the importance of collaborative research, innovation, and real-world applications in advancing HVDC technology. The insights shared and discussions sparked during the conference will continue to shape our work at Etch, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of energy transmission advancements.
