SuperGrid Institute
SuperGrid Institute is an independent French research and innovation company specialising in HVDC and MVDC power transmission technologies, operating Europe's first high power source test platform and providing testing, consulting, and technology transfer to TSOs and equipment manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersVilleurbanne, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SuperGrid Institute does
SuperGrid Institute is an independent French research and innovation company (SAS, capital €71.9m) headquartered in Villeurbanne (Lyon metropolitan area) and founded in 2014. The institute is dedicated to developing technologies for future High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) power transmission systems, organised around five research pillars: Supergrid Architecture & Systems, High Voltage Substation Equipment, Power Electronics & Converters, High Voltage Cable Systems, and Energy Storage & Grid Balancing. Its core proprietary technologies include the HyBreak MVDC circuit breaker, a Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter, the 50kV DC breaking breakthrough (combining superconducting FCL with circuit breaker), DC solid-state transformers (10 kV DC/DC prototype for FOR²ENSiCS), and the OpTEAsoft Wind decision-support software for offshore wind farm electrical architecture.
The institute monetises through four streams: (1) testing and laboratory services using 10+ specialised platforms (Europe's first high power source test platform, HV cable testing, power converter, short-circuit, real-time HIL/PHIL simulation, HydroPHIL hydraulic, vacuum brazing, power switches, medium frequency transformer, insulation materials), (2) expertise and consulting engagements, (3) innovation and technology transfer including licensing of proprietary IP to industrial partners, and (4) DC training programmes (HVDC networks, MVDC distribution) delivered in-person and via e-learning. Customers comprise European transmission system operators (RTE, National Grid, SP Energy Networks), HVDC equipment manufacturers (ABB, Hitachi Energy, GE Vernova), cable producers (Nexans, Prysmian Group), and adjacent industries such as rail (Alstom). R&D is partially co-financed by France 2030 and ADEME grants plus EU consortium funding (InterOPERA, RHODÉ, HVDC-WISE, READY4DC, XFLEX HYDRO, OPHELIA and others), positioning the institute as a research partner of choice within the European HVDC ecosystem. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales via direct engagement, collaborative R&D, and consortium participation, with quote-based pricing. The organisation holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, GDPR compliance, and has received multiple INPI innovation recognitions (2018 SME Patent Superstar, 2022 and 2024 PME Innovantes).
SuperGrid Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SuperGrid Institute
- Legal name
- SuperGrid Institute
- Website
- https://supergrid-institute.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- SuperGrid Institute is an independent French research and innovation company specialising in HVDC and MVDC power transmission technologies, operating Europe's first high power source test platform and providing testing, consulting, and technology transfer to TSOs and equipment manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SuperGrid Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Power Transmission R&D and Testing Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microgrid & Distributed Grid Equipment (Controllers, Switchgear Packages, DER Interconnection) (IMAGAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Energy Management Systems & Plant Controllers (PPC, AGC Participation, Curtailment Control) (EUAMAIAI), DER & Microgrid Interconnection / Grid Edge Integration Services (EUAEANAF), Grid Code & Compliance Testing (IEEE/UL, FRT, Reactive Power, Harmonics) (EUAMAIAC)
Keywords
Where SuperGrid Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Villeurbanne
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SuperGrid Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Testing and Laboratory Services: High-end test platform services for high voltage equipment, cables, and power electronics. Clients benefit from state-of-the-art testing facilities for product qualification and R&D testing.
- Expertise and Consulting: Technical consulting services resolving challenges, identifying improvements, and optimizing solutions for power transmission and grid systems.
- Innovation and Technology Transfer: Applied research, innovation, licensing and technology transfer to industrial partners. Collaborative R&D projects funded partially by government programs like France 2030 and European projects.
- Training Programs: DC training catalogue including HVDC networks, MVDC networks, and customized training for engineering teams and senior leaders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional training sessions (public scheduled) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
SuperGrid Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SuperGrid Institute is an independent innovation and research company that develops HVDC and MVDC technologies for future power transmission systems. It sells applied research, technology transfer and licensing, high-end laboratory testing services on specialised test platforms, technical consulting, and HVDC/MVDC training programs to industrial customers in the energy sector. The company is organised around five research pillars: Supergrid Architecture & Systems, High Voltage Substation Equipment, Power Electronics & Converters, High Voltage Cable Systems, and Energy Storage & Grid Balancing.
Product overview
SuperGrid Institute is an independent innovation and research company dedicated to developing technologies for future power transmission systems. The company offers a portfolio of specialized testing platforms (including HV cable testing, power converter testing, short-circuit testing, real-time simulation, and vacuum brazing), proprietary technologies (HyBreak MVDC circuit breaker, Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter, OpTEAsoft Wind optimization software), professional training programs (HVDC and MVDC networks), and consulting services. These offerings are organized around five research pillars: Supergrid Architecture & Systems, High Voltage Substation Equipment, Power Electronics & Converters, High Voltage Cable Systems, and Energy Storage & Grid Balancing. The company also collaborates on major European projects including RHODÉ, Network DC, NSWPH, InterOPERA, READY4DC, HVDC-WISE, OPHELIA, and XFLEX HYDRO.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OpTEAsoft Wind Decision-making software to optimise offshore wind farms' electrical architecture, helping engineers evaluate and select optimal grid connection configurations.
- Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter Superconducting fault current limiter technology for HVDC grid protection, enabling rapid fault current limitation without physical interruption of the circuit.
- HyBreak MVDC Circuit Breaker Breakthrough medium voltage DC (MVDC) circuit breaker technology for protecting DC networks in renewable energy applications, particularly offshore wind and solar PV systems.
- High Voltage Testing for Cables Comprehensive testing services for high-voltage power cables including type testing, pre-qualification testing, and development testing for HVDC and MVDC cable systems.
- High Voltage Test Platforms Advanced testing facilities for high-voltage equipment including gas insulated systems (GIS/GIL), cable accessories, and insulation materials testing.
- Power Converter Testing Testing services for power electronic converters including efficiency measurements, thermal testing, and performance characterization for MVDC and HVDC applications.
- Short-Circuit Testing High-power short-circuit testing capabilities for validating the performance and safety of electrical equipment under fault conditions.
- Real-Time Simulation Testing Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) simulation platforms for testing power system components in real-time with simulated grid conditions.
- HydroPHIL Hydraulic Machines Test Platform Specialized hydraulic testing facilities including HydroPHIL platform for testing hydropower plant equipment and hydraulic machinery for power generation.
- Expertise & Consulting Services Technical consulting services for power transmission challenges, including grid architecture studies, insulation coordination, and HVDC/MVDC system optimization.
- Innovation & Technology Transfer Applied research, innovation, and technology transfer services for developing and licensing new power transmission technologies.
- HVDC Networks Training Professional training on HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) transmission technologies covering system design, operation, and grid integration, delivered in-person and via e-learning.
- MVDC Networks Training Training on Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) distribution networks and components for renewable energy integration applications, delivered in-person and via e-learning.
Quantifiable outcome
- First 50kV DC breaking achieved by combining superconducting fault current limiter with circuit breaker
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SuperGrid Institute
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SuperGrid Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
SuperGrid Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- RHODÉ Consortium (Seven French Industrial and Research Partners)coreSeven French industrial and research partners launched RHODÉ project for developing high-power HVDC grid connections for large-scale offshore wind in deep waters. Project awarded €16m grant from France 2030 via ADEME. Target: first floating HVDC connections by 2040.
- GE VernovacoreCollaboration focused on meeting HVDC circuit breaker market needs. Joint development of technology solutions for DC grid protection systems.
- RTEcorePartnership agreement signed for decarbonisation of the electricity industry. Collaboration began with four initial joint research actions focused on power transmission innovation and HVDC technology development.
- MasterGridcoreThree-party partnership with SuperGrid Institute and RTE for decarbonisation of the electricity industry. MasterGrid contributes expertise in power system simulation and grid analysis.
- North Sea Wind Power Hub ConsortiumcoreActive participation in pre-FEED studies for the North Sea Wind Power Hub programme, providing technical contributions on HVDC grid building blocks, DC protection requirements, and power loss assessments for multi-terminal DC grids.
- InterOPERA ConsortiumcoreEstablishing foundations for multi-vendor, multi-terminal HVDC systems. Contributing functional requirements and interoperability specifications for European HVDC projects.
- NexansmajorConducted first transient overvoltage test on 525kV DC cable system. Collaboration on HVDC cable testing and qualification procedures.
- Prysmian GroupmajorEvaluating 640 kV DC SF6 free cable termination. Collaboration on high voltage cable technology development and testing.
- FEBUS OpticsmajorJoint study on use of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for partial discharge detection in high-voltage power cables. Sensor development collaboration.
- Wind Power AlliancemajorAlliance with bcom, France Energies Marines, and Jules Verne for developing marine renewable energies and wind power technologies.
- National Grid Electricity TransmissionmajorCollaboration in European projects including InterOPERA and other HVDC interoperability initiatives for multi-vendor multi-terminal DC grids.
- SP Energy NetworksmajorCollaboration on HVDC technology development and network innovation projects within European research programs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
SuperGrid Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KEMA Labs (CESI): Independent high-power testing laboratories for power transmission and distribution equipment, offering type testing, short-circuit and HVDC cable qualification. Direct competitor to SuperGrid's HV test platforms and cable/converter test services for utilities and OEMs.
- DNV: Global testing, inspection and certification provider with strong energy and power systems practices, including HVDC cable and subsea cable qualification. Competes with SuperGrid in independent verification, testing services and standards development for the energy sector.
- TÜV Rheinland: Independent testing, inspection and certification body covering high-voltage and power electronics equipment. Overlaps with SuperGrid's HV equipment testing, type testing and grid code compliance services for transmission OEMs and TSOs.
Regional players
- Fraunhofer IEE (Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology): German applied research institute focused on energy system technology, grid integration of renewables, power electronics and HVDC. Comparable to SuperGrid in mission and customer base (TSOs and OEMs) but based in Germany and structured as a non-profit research institute.
- SINTEF Energy: Norwegian applied research institute with strong power systems, HVDC and offshore grid laboratories. Closely comparable to SuperGrid in combining lab-based testing, applied R&D and industry partnerships, primarily serving Nordic and European TSOs and OEMs.
- DTU Wind and Energy Systems: Department at the Technical University of Denmark conducting power systems, HVDC and offshore wind research with significant laboratory infrastructure. Comparable as an independent European research entity serving TSOs and OEMs on DC grid and renewable integration challenges.
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Swedish technical university with leading HVDC and power systems research groups (e.g., ABB-funded labs) producing high-impact publications and patents. Comparable to SuperGrid's HVDC research output and participation in European collaborative projects.
- EnergyVille: Belgian research collaboration focused on sustainable energy and smart grids, including power electronics and HVDC integration. Overlaps with SuperGrid's smart-grid and renewable integration research and EU-funded project participation.
Broad incumbents
- Hitachi Energy: Global leader in HVDC systems, grid integration and power transmission equipment, and a named reference customer and partner of SuperGrid. Much larger and commercially focused; competes indirectly by internalizing HVDC R&D and absorbing the testing demand that SuperGrid also services.
- Siemens Energy: Major OEM of HVDC systems, grid technologies and power transmission equipment with substantial in-house R&D and global testing facilities. Indirectly comparable as both a potential partner and competitor for SuperGrid across HVDC technology development and qualification.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SuperGrid Institute social profiles
Digital presenceSuperGrid Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
SuperGrid Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SuperGrid Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
SuperGrid Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SuperGrid Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SuperGrid Institute
What does SuperGrid Institute do?
SuperGrid Institute is an independent innovation and research company that develops HVDC and MVDC technologies for future power transmission systems. It sells applied research, technology transfer and licensing, high-end laboratory testing services on specialised test platforms, technical consulting, and HVDC/MVDC training programs to industrial customers in the energy sector. The company is organised around five research pillars: Supergrid Architecture & Systems, High Voltage Substation Equipment, Power Electronics & Converters, High Voltage Cable Systems, and Energy Storage & Grid Balancing.
Is SuperGrid Institute a public or private company?
SuperGrid Institute is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SuperGrid Institute founded?
SuperGrid Institute was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is SuperGrid Institute based?
SuperGrid Institute is headquartered in Villeurbanne, France, in the Europe region.
How does SuperGrid Institute make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Testing and Laboratory Services are the primary driver. The others are expertise and Consulting, innovation and Technology Transfer and training Programs.
Who are SuperGrid Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KEMA Labs (CESI), DNV and TÜV Rheinland. Regional players are Fraunhofer IEE (Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology), SINTEF Energy, DTU Wind and Energy Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and EnergyVille. Broad incumbents are Hitachi Energy and Siemens Energy.
Does SuperGrid Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for SuperGrid Institute.
What industry is SuperGrid Institute in?
SuperGrid Institute's product category is Power Transmission R&D and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAAAJ, Microgrid & Distributed Grid Equipment (Controllers, Switchgear Packages, DER Interconnection), with a secondary code of EUAMAIAI, Energy Management Systems & Plant Controllers (PPC, AGC Participation, Curtailment Control). Its NAICS code is 22112 and its SIC code is 3825.