2004-05-06 - ABB’s high-end technology leadership and pioneering spirit take power transmission to new levels
HVDC technology means no overloading, reliable supply, no blackouts
HVDC will play leading role in development of new interconnections
ABB’s patented HVDC Light technology is providing environmentally- friendly transmission.
ABB pioneered high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology 50 years ago, building the world’s first commercial HVDC transmission link between the Swedish mainland and the island of Gotland.
Since the commissioning of the 90 kilometer-long, 100-kV, 20-MW submarine cable, ABB has gone on to become the undisputed world leader in HVDC transmission.
At an event in Visby, Sweden, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the HVDC technology, Peter Smits, head of ABB’s Power Technologies division, said “ABB’s technology know-how, coupled with our top quality equipment, local expertise and pioneering spirit, have made us the undisputed market leader in HVDC technology. Our HVDC technology has been used in every continent, bringing benefits to utilities and industries, as well as consumers.”
Top quality technology and know-how
HVDC is used mainly for bulk power transmission and for the interconnection of independent power grids. HVDC lines cannot be overloaded, ensuring grid reliability and eradicating “loop flows” characteristic of interconnected AC systems. The HVDC system provides support and performance enhancement for the surrounding AC grid.
ABB’s unique HVDC Light, which is the latest ABB-patented innovation in HVDC, is designed for underwater and underground transmission. The development of HVDC Light underlines ABB’s technology leadership. The technology relies on voltage source converters and cables. Its first installation dates back to 1997.
“HVDC technologies are increasingly needed to ensure reliable power supply and meet increasing market needs,” says Smits. “The ability of HVDC and HVDC Light to guarantee reliable supply makes them an increasingly attractive investment for utility and other power transmission companies.”
ABB has been chosen to supply more than half of the HVDC converter stations in the world. It currently has 60 percent market share. In total about 70,000 MW HVDC transmission capacity is installed in more than 90 projects around the world. ABB has been entrusted with orders for more than half of these projects with an installed transmission capacity of about 40,000 MW.
Advantages and applications of HVDC and HVDC Light
- Interconnections. Proposals by the European Union and in the United States to improve transmission in the wake of last year’s power blackouts are leading to increased plans for new and more cross-border interconnections, and demands for reliable grids. The enlargement of the European Union in May 2004 has opened the door to further trans-national power grids. The move in the Baltic states, for example, to create a Baltic electricity ring that connects all grids in the area indicates the importance of interconnections and the vital role HVDC can play. Interconnections between Europe and northern Africa are also on the drawing board.
- Preventing blackouts. HVDC lines can not be overloaded. The DC technology enables full power flow control. With HVDC, power can be traded between independent power grids, isolating failures and compensating for voltage instability.
- Restoring power supply quickly. In addition to the traditional HVDC benefits, HVDC Light also offers so-called ‘black start’ capability, meaning that it can power up networks that have suffered 100 percent failure. For example, the Cross Sound HVDC Light cable, linking Long Island and Connecticut, was activated shortly after the power outages in the eastern United States in mid-August 2003, restoring power quickly and efficiently to tens of thousands of local consumers.
- Efficient transmission over long distances. Examples in Australia, Brazil China, Europe and the United States (see separate fact sheet) demonstrate the effectiveness over long distances of ABB’s HVDC technology. Power losses are significantly lower than with conventional HVAC technology.
- Integration of renewable sources of energy into grids. HVDC is the ideal technology for ensuring that power, drawn from renewable sources of energy, can be efficiently integrated into power grids. It is particularly suited to harnessing windpower generated offshore to onshore grids, and for connecting offshore installations such as oil platforms to mainland grids.
- Environmental benefits. By providing for underground and subsea transmission, HVDC Light has strong environmental credentials. For example, the Muraylink project in Australia – the world’s longest underground high-voltage interconnection at 177 kilometers – won the 2002 Case EARTH Award for Environmental Excellence for best practice and innovation in the environmental management of civil construction projects. It also received an engineering award in 2003.
Market developments
Two main factors are at work today increasing the market share of HVDC technology: Security of supply requires keeping the synchronized grids smaller and linking asynchronous grids with HVDC back-to-back systems. Environmental concerns are leading utilities to send more power per line, to save space and potentially put more power transmission underground.
In Europe, the blackouts of 2003 have led to a greater need for security of power supply. Grids need to be reinforced primarily to ensure a reliable supply, to allow the power market to grow and to encourage the development of new renewable power generation. For example, the “Quick Start Program” launched by the European Union has identified about 1.7 billion euros worth of additional transmission investments, which the EU believes are necessary over the next 3 to 4 years. Of these planned investments a majority – 1.4 billion Euros worth – are to be HVDC technology.
In the United States and in India for instance, HVDC back-to-back systems connecting power grids are very helpful, as they have asynchronous networks that are best connected with HVDC technology.
China is an example of a country where HVDC will represent 10–15 percent of the high voltage transmission based on the above criteria. Hence, HVDC is the backbone of China’s national power grid. Annual investment in the range of more than $10 billion demonstrates the huge need for state-of-the art power transmission technology in China.
About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering their environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 113,000 people.
ABB is the world's no. 1 in power technologies, providing utilities, industries and channel partners with access to a rich portfolio of technologies for power transmission and distribution as well as power plant automation. The Power Technologies division employs 39,000 people.
ABB’s operations in Ludvika, Sweden, provide the lead center for the development and deployment of its HVDC and HVDC Light systems and equipment. The lead center is supported by ABB’s global research and development network and local operations.
For further information about Power Technologies, HVDC and HVDC Light visit our Internet site www.abb.com and www.abb.com/hvdc