Map over Rio Madeira HVDC in Brazil.
Rio Madeira
The longest transmission link in the world - 2,375 kilometers.
A consortium consisting of two companies in the Abengoa Group, Inabensa S.A (Spain) and Abengoa Construção Brasil Ltda (Brazil) has awarded ABB the contracts to supply the power equipment for three HVDC stations. The delivery is part of the government of Brazil's Program to Accelerate Development, known as "PAC".
Two 3,150 MW HVDC stations are to be placed at each end of a new power highway transmitting energy from two new hydropower plants close to Porto Velho in the northwest of Brazil to the southeast, close to the São Paulo area. Stretching over 2,375 kilometer (1,550 miles), it will be the world's longest transmission link. The third HVDC station will be a 800 MW back-to-back station that will transmit power to the surrounding AC network in the northwest of Brazil.
The transmission link from the Amazonas down to the São Paulo area will be the second 600 kV HVDC transmission in Brazil, the Itaipu project built by ABB in the mid '80s being the first.
The three stations are scheduled for completion in 2013.
| Main data |  |
| Commissioning year: | 2013 |
| Power rating: | 3 150 MW
2 x 400 MW (back-to-back) |
| AC voltage: | Transmission link: 500 kV
Back-to-back: 500 kV and 230 kV |
| DC voltage: | ± 600 kV |
| Length of DC overhead line: | 2,375 km |
| Type of link | * Long distance overhead line
* Back-to-back station |
| Main reason for choosing HVDC: | Long distance
Back-to-back: Asynchronous networks |
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