It is increasingly economic to interconnect with neighbouring grids to benefit from the pooling of resources.
We have selected to distinguish interconnections within a grid and new interconnections between grids.
Within a grid
By this we mean constructing or strengthening a circuit between two points that belongs to the same synchronous grid (or group of grids). If the electrical distance is short or of moderate length, it is often enough to build one or two uncompensated AC-lines or cables. But with increasing distance, the addition of FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems) and utilising HVDC can be the optimum choice.
ABB Case Stories of typical applications:
Further applications:
- Controlled interconnections within a city (HVDC Light)
Between grids
This means linking two separate networks that are not running in synchronism so that exchange of power can take place. If they are linked by an AC circuit assuming the same nominal frequency), then the combined network becomes one synchronous grid with common frequency control. But if the power transfer is on a HVDC link, the networks can maintain their separate frequencies.
ABB Case Stories of typical applications: