Improved investment cost model and overhead cost consideration for high voltage direct current infrastructure

The ongoing large-scale deployment of offshore wind parks creates the need for substantial investments in Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission infrastructure. An investment cost model with a corresponding cost parameter set was established in 2018 to improve the accuracy of HVDC grid expansion planning. As part of an ongoing initiative to continue previous work, the cost model has been updated and expanded. UnderGround Cables (UGC) are now treated similarly to SubMarine Cables (SMC) for a more accurate inclusion of onshore extensions of offshore HVDC networks. The parameter fitting methodology, which identifies the cost model parameters, has also been updated to consider different overhead costs, which increases the precision of processing cost data from real HVDC projects for parameter fitting, and, therefore, the accuracy of the cost parameter set.