Dragan Jovcic

Biography:

Dragan Jovcic obtained a Diploma Engineer degree in Control Engineering from the University of Belgrade, Serbia in 1993 and a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1999.

Since 2000 he has been an academic in UK, and since 2012 a chaired professor with University ofAberdeen. In 2008 he held a visiting professor post at McGill University, Canada. Prof Jovcic is fellow of IEEE, fellow of IET, and IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer. He is editor of IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery and IEEE Access. Professor Jovcic is a member of CIGRE, has been chairman of B4.76 and member of 5 other working groups (B4.52, B4.58, B4.64, B4.80, B4.84). He is founder and director of Aberdeen HVDC research centre where he has managed significant volume of externally funded research projects.

Prof Jovcic has around 160 publications and he is author of a book on HVDC: “High Voltage Direct Current Transmission: Converters, Systems and DC Grids”, Wiley, 2015.

Topic detail : 

High Voltage DC (HVDC) transmission has undergone significant advancements over the past two decades, largely driven by the adoption of Voltage Source Converters (VSC) and the introduction of Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) at gigawatt scales. While traditional HVDC links were limited to point-to-point connections, the next step is the development of interconnected DC transmission grids, envisioned to match the reliability, flexibility, and performance of conventional AC systems.

One of the major motivations for DC grid development is the need for multi-terminal power trading, particularly in applications such as the proposed 350 GW North Sea grid or an EU-wide overlay network. AC transmission is not viable for long subsea distances and is generally outperformed by DC in many scenarios.

This presentation explores the current status and challenges of DC grid development, including real-world implementations like China's Zhangbei 4-terminal meshed DC system, which features a bipolar ring topology and 16 DC circuit breakers. It also examines various topologies (radial, hub-based, segmented) in light of technical and economic constraints.

The talk will delve into emerging technologies such as hybrid LCC/MMC converters, DC/DC converters (currently under active research), and multiport DC hubs, which act as electronic substations. The progress in fast-acting DC circuit breakers (2–8 ms range) will be discussed along with their trade-offs in cost and complexity.

Further topics include the challenges of DC grid modeling and control—where fast dynamics, low-impedance connections, and lack of system-wide frequency require advanced simulation and control strategies. The presentation will also address protection issues, including selectivity, coordination, and standardization efforts, highlighting whether DC systems can meet the security and reliability expectations of modern power networks.

Email:

Address:United Kingdom