Real-time and operational feedback from the first HVDC link between Italy and Montenegro

The MONITA (Montenegro-Italy) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link is the first connection between Italian peninsula and Montenegro. The first pole of the link is in operation since the end of December 2019, this paper describes the main real-time and operational outcomes from the experience earned during the early times after the entry in operation of the link. The article focuses both on market aspects and the operational ones. The MONITA link allows, for the first time, the commercial power exchange across the Adriatic Sea from Italy to Montenegro generating commercial benefit for overall European energy market. The article analyzes the commercial outcomes giving evidence about the statistics of the direction of power flow and the saturation of the capacity of the link. The main technical outcomes are described with respect to the effect on the real time control operation due to the occurred events. Finally, the main strategy to manage the link with the Italian Load Frequency Controller (LFC) is drafted with a focus on N-1 operation.