HVDC Light technology secures power supply and grid reliability to Finnish archipelago
Kraftnät Åland AB, the TSO on Åland, an autonomous Finnish province situated at the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia in the Balitc Sea, has awarded ABB a contract to supply a new turn-key HVDC Light link. The transmission, rated 100 MW at ±80 kV, will give security of supply to the archipelago and allow for more renewables to be entered into the energy mix.
Åland presently receives its power through AC cables from Sweden and there is also some locally generated renewable generation. The existing fossil fueled power generation back-up system will be closed down once the new link is in operation.
The HVDC Light system incorporates special features such as active AC voltage support providing greater network stability and the unique ‘black-start’ capability, which provides faster grid restoration in the event of a blackout. The system is grid enabled, i.e. prepared for a multi-terminal configuration, which allows for additional in-feed from stations, such as future wind power plants.
ABB will deliver two converter stations, one situated in Ytterby, Åland and the other in Nådendal, Finland and two 80 kV submarine cables, each 158 km long. The link is scheduled to become operational in 2015.
| Main data |  |
|---|
| Commissioning year: | 2015 |
| Power rating: | 100 MW |
| No. of poles: | 2 |
| AC voltage: | 110 kV at both ends |
| DC voltage: | ±80 kV |
| Length of DC submarine cable route: | 158 km |
| Main reason for choosing HVDC: | Length of sea crossing
Asynchronous networks |