RHODÉ Consortium Unveils R&D Project for Floating HVDC Connections

Why It Matters

Floating HVDC links are essential for scaling offshore wind in deep water, and RHODÉ positions France to lead the emerging global market for these high‑capacity connections.

Key Takeaways

• €16 m ($18.5 m) French government grant funds RHODÉ R&D
• Targets floating HVDC substations for 320 kV and 525 kV
• Aims to create French industrial base for high‑power offshore connections
• Includes design, modelling, basin tests, and at‑sea trials
• Partners span shipbuilding, mooring, digital twins, cable manufacturing, and grid operation

Pulse Analysis

Offshore wind is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Europe’s renewable strategy, yet most deep‑water sites lie beyond the reach of traditional fixed‑bottom substations. Floating platforms equipped with high‑voltage direct current (HVDC) technology promise to bridge that gap, delivering lower transmission losses and greater flexibility for turbines located over 100 m deep. However, the engineering challenges—ranging from dynamic cable handling to reliable power conversion in a marine environment—have kept commercial deployment limited, creating a clear market need for coordinated research.

The RHODÉ initiative answers that need with a comprehensive R&D roadmap funded by a €16 m ($18.5 m) grant under France 2030. The consortium blends shipbuilding expertise from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, mooring and digital‑twin capabilities from France Energies Marines, and cutting‑edge power electronics from GE Vernova. By focusing on 320 kV and 525 kV floating substations, the project will prototype transformers, gas‑insulated switchgear, and dynamic HVDC cables, subjecting them to numerical simulations, hydrodynamic basin testing, and full‑scale at‑sea trials. This end‑to‑end validation pipeline is designed to de‑risk the technology and accelerate its path to market.

If successful, RHODÉ could catalyze a new French industrial sector specialized in high‑power floating HVDC solutions, giving domestic firms a competitive edge in export markets that are eyeing deep‑water wind projects in the Atlantic, Baltic and beyond. The timeline aligns with the projected 2040 rollout of large‑scale offshore wind farms, positioning France to supply both the hardware and the engineering services required for the next generation of renewable grids. Such a capability not only strengthens energy security but also creates high‑value jobs and reinforces Europe’s leadership in clean‑energy infrastructure.