The challenges of competition and intellectual property law for HVDC grid development

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology is deemed necessary to connect the 120–300 GW of offshore wind projected in the North Sea. However, to create a HVDC offshore grid it is necessary that the HVDC industry develop the tools and processes necessary to facilitate multi-terminal, multi-vendor (MTMV) projects. Standards are one such tool and have received significant regulatory attention. Without standards, interoperability in future HVDC grids will likely be limited. Standards help to ensure interoperability between different projects and components, with the final objective of creating an efficient network that is safe and reliable. This article connects the legal and technical perspectives in the process of reaching interoperability of different vendors’ HVDC technology. It identifies the challenges posed by competition law and intellectual property law in HVDC grid development and gives policy recommendations for the improvement of this process.