|11 ffwd - abb groupfile/ffwd_special+edition_lowres.pdf · 12 svc light ® 14 distributed ... 25...

Industry viewpoint from RenewableUK 04Self-installed HVDC platform 09Hybrid HVDC breaker 10First UK installation for DynaPeaQ 14IEC 61850 project for offshore wind farm 22Fast-track PV plants 26Oyster wave power 30

1|11Focus on

renewable energy special issue

Building Europe’s integrated offshore HVDC grid

™Power and productivity

for a better world

ffwd

Renewable energy special issue FFWD 1|11 3

Editorial Content

Dear reader,Welcome to this special issue of ffwd,

the UK customer newsletter for ABB Power Products and Power Systems, inwhich we provide a flavour of ABB’s verybroad spectrum of technologies and servicesfor the renewable energy industry. We areshowcasing both technology that has alreadybeen launched and delivered in the UK,

developing technologies that we havedeployed in other renewables markets, as wellas some of the emerging technologies andconcepts that will shape the industry incoming years.

The challenge of helping Europe to makethe most of its precious energy resources isproving particularly interesting and exciting forABB, particularly as some of the UK’s majorwind power schemes are now starting tocome to fruition. We work very closely withthe UK’s leading power utilities and renewableenergy companies to help them develop andmaintain their vital electrical infrastructure andthis has resulted in outstanding growth –some 30 percent in 2010. We have plans togrow even further, which is why we areactively recruiting people at every level – fromtechnical apprentices to senior staff – with amajor focus on enhancing our position as the UK centre of excellence for grid systems technology. As well as providing alocal capability, this team will be fullyintegrated into ABB’s global grid systemsbusiness, which will allow us to build on thetechnology leadership and project deliveryexperience from the wider ABB group.

Furthermore, in recognition of the vitalimportance of this sector to the UK, I am very

pleased to announce that ABB is the coresponsor for the Offshore Wind 2012Conference, which takes place in June atLondon’s ExCel centre. And on that subject, I would like to thank Maria McCaffery, chiefexecutive of RenewableUK, for kindlyagreeing to contribute to this special issue ofthe magazine.

Reading through the pages, there issomething for everyone with an interest inrenewable energy, from major offshore windfarms to fledgling wave power technology. Imust highlight two really significantdevelopments – our new self-installed HVDCplatform that has the potential to revolutionizethe way we approach offshore wind farmconnection projects, and the ground-breaking hybrid HVDC breaker which iseffectively the ‘last piece in the jigsaw’ forcreating inter-regional supergrids.

If you have any feedback on the subjectscovered in this issue, or suggestions for futurearticles, please let us know – we are alwayskeen to hear from our customers.

Stephen TrotterDivision Head of ABB Power Systems UK

Power Products are the key components to transmit and distribute electricity.The division incorporates ABB’s manufacturing network for transformers,switchgear, circuit breakers, cables and associated equipment. It also offers allthe services needed to ensure products’ performance and extend their lifespan.

Power Systems offers turnkey systems and services for power transmission anddistribution grids, and for power plants. Substations and substation automationsystems are key areas. Additional highlights include flexible alternating currenttransmission systems (FACTS), high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems andnetwork management systems. In power generation, Power Systems offers theinstrumentation, control and electrification of power plants.

08Enhanced CTL HVDCLight technology 21

HVDC Light cables

26Fast-track PVplants 30

Aquamarine Oyster

ffwd renewable energy special issue 1/11 • the customer newsletter of ABB Power Products and Power Systems • Subscription Newsletter available asprinted or electronic copy. Subscribe online at www.abb.com/ffwd • Contact and feedback [email protected] • Publisher ABB Limited, PowerSystems Division, Oulton Road, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0RS. Phone 01785 825050

4 A once-in-a-generation opportunity

6 Everything from individual components toturnkey grid connection projects

8 Enhanced CTL HVDC Light® technology8 Self-installed HVDC platform10 Building Europe’s integrated offshore HVDC grid11 Hybrid HVDC breaker

12 SVC Light®

14 Distributed Energy Storage15 DynaPeaQ®

16 Connecting the world’s largest offshore wind farm

16 Offshore substation for Thornton Bank wind farm

17 Key role for Hadyard Hill wind farm17 PASS MO for distribution substations

18 Stepping up for Greater Gabbard18 EcoDry transformers cut energy losses19 Super-slim switchgear

20 Submarine HVDC Light cables20 Major boost for installation capability21 Land cables

22 IEC 61850-based protection and control scheme23 Managing the energy market for National Grid

24 Standardized platform concept for lower cost generators

25 Frequency converters for AREVA Wind

26 Fast-track PV plants26 Extended functionality for central inverters27 Desertec

28 Harnessing water power29 ICE for Linth-Limmern pumped storage project

30 Aquamarine Oyster

31 LIDAR

Stephen Trotter

ffwd renewable energy special issue 1|11

We often joke or complain about theweather here in the UK but the fact is, beinglocated off the northwest coast of mainlandEurope gives us a huge advantage in termsof the natural energy resources we haveavailable to us. The UK is the windiestcountry in Europe, and is surrounded byexcellent wave and tidal resources.

The UK is already a world leader inoffshore wind, as well as in the manufactureand deployment of small wind systems. Thesector generates enough power to supplyover three million homes a year, currentlyemploying 11,800 people, a virtual doublingfrom around 6,000 over the past three years,despite one of the severest economicrecessions on record.

The latest statistics from Renewable UK’sWind Energy Database show that we now have an operational capacity of 5.7 gigawatts (GW), with another 8.9 GW ofwind farm projects consented or underconstruction. A further 9 GW of wind energyprojects are at the planning stage.

Time to solidify our leadIt has taken many years and hugecommitment to establish our worldleadership position and it’s important tomaintain this momentum. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to consolidateour lead in renewable energy, especially inwind power, and this requires the mostsignificant re-engineering of our energyinfrastructure since we discovered gas in theNorth Sea more than four decades ago.Evidence-based studies predict that asmany as 88,300 people, many of themhighly skilled and highly paid, will be working in the wind, wave and tidalindustries by 2021. This will extend thelifecycle of the existing skills base and is

already stimulating investment in up-skillingthe next generation, providing a huge boostto the UK’s manufacturing sector – all inaddition to securing our energy supply andhelping to address the challenge of climate change.

We have some of the best-knowncompanies in the world committed toinvesting in the UK. What we need now fromthe Government is a clear and firm indicationthat Britain is standing four-square behindits renewable energy policy and giving fullbacking to these new technologies.

By taking action on policy – chiefly on theeconomic support mechanism, the planningsystem and grid infrastructure – the UKcould become an even more formidableforce in one of the world’s cutting-edgesectors.

Costs fallingOne of the challenges facing large-scalewind deployment offshore has beenits cost. On a more positive note, accordingto a recent study commissioned byRenewableUK through independenttechnical consultants, the overall cost ofgenerating electricity from offshore wind isset to fall significantly over the next 10 years.

The study, ‘Offshore Wind – Forecasts ofFuture Costs and Benefits’, examines thewhole life costs of UK offshore wind projectsdue to be built between 2011 and 2022. Itshows that, under normal marketconditions, these costs will be driven downby more than 15 per cent in real terms – and by as much as 33 per cent underfavourable conditions.

It is in everybody’s interest to promotecompetition and drive innovation in thissector, so that the UK can maximize theeconomic and environmental benefits, and

deliver the Government’s aspiration of18GW of installed capacity by 2020. Wemust also ensure that we are equallycommitted to our nascent wave and tidalenergy sector, in which we are also aworld leader.

Innovation keyPolitical will and determination are needed to encourage investors in the UK’s renewable energy sector. These investors need to see a critical mass ofprojects in order to justify building factories and committing to the UK in the long term.

The backing of a co-ordinated effort toconstruct a European offshore supergrid inthe recently published Parliamentary reportby the Energy and Climate Change Select

Committee is a positive sign. Such asupergrid will be vital for the British Isles toharness our renewable energy resourcesefficiently and trade effectively with ourEuropean and Scandinavian neighbours.

Of equal importance to politicalcommitment is the need for innovation thatwill help drive the business case forrenewable energy even further. This is whereour member companies such as ABB willmake the most important contribution. WeBrits are natural innovators, and we must ensure that the benefits of ourinnovations are enjoyed in the UK. All weneed is stable and supportive national policyand, of course, a fair wind, and ourenterprising and innovating spirit will makesure we do justice to this once-in-a-generation opportunity.


Industry viewpoint

4 FFWD 1|11 Renewable Energy Special Issue

Industry viewpoint

A once-in-a-generationopportunityMaria McCaffery, chief executive of RenewableUK, highlightsthe need for political will and continued innovation if the UK isto capitalize on its lead in renewable energy.

Horns REV offshore wind farm in the North sea is capable of producing 160 MW

Maria McCaffery


Renewable energy capability

6 FFWD 1|11 Renewable energy special issue

ABB has built on over 100 years of experience in power and automationtechnology to develop a complete portfolio of services for the renewableenergy industry. This covers virtually any requirement, from individualcomponents for a wind turbine installation through to the turnkey deliveryof onshore or offshore grid connection schemes.

ABB’s renewable energy portfolio

Renewable energy capability

Wind turbines• Generators• Motors• Converters• Low-voltage equipment• Switchgear• Cables and connectors• Protection and control

Solar power plant• Trackers• Inverters

• Transformers• Control and automation systems

Renewable energy infrastructure• Electrical balance of plant (EBoP)• Wind farm interconnection• AIS and GIS substations,

both onshore and on offshore platforms

• Underground and subsea cabletransmission

• Overhead line transmission

• Power grid connection• Control and protection systems• Flexible AC Transmission Systems

(FACTS) technologies, including SVCs• HVDC Light• Control and protection systems• Network management• Service, including installation,

commissioning, planned maintenance contracts and emergency breakdown support

in Australia as well as the 105 km subseaEstlink between Finland and Estonia. It iscurrently being used for Eirgrid’s 500 MWEast–West interconnector that will link theIrish and UK grids in 2012.

BorWin1The world’s first HVDC link to connect anoffshore wind farm with an AC grid is theBorWin1 project that connects the BARDOffshore 1 wind farm in the North Sea toGermany’s mainland AC grid.

The 80 wind turbines feed their powerinto a 36 kV AC cable system. This voltageis transformed to 155 kV AC before reachingthe HVDC Light converter station, locatedon a dedicated platform. The AC isconverted to ±150 kV DC and fed into two125 km sea cables, which continue into two75 km land cables, transmitting 400 MW

power to the land-based converter stationat Diele in Germany.

Evolving technologyHVDC Light is a technology that is evolvingcontinuously. ABB’s latest projects feature an enhanced generation of HVDC Light based on Cascaded Two Level(CTL) converter technology. Its mainadvantage is the low converter losses ofaround 1 percent (compared with 3 percentfor the first generation). The low harmonicgeneration also eliminates the need for ACfilters and contributes to a very compactinstallation footprint.

HVDC Light CTL also offers additionalflexibility since the maximum rating available within one module is +320 kV and1,150 MW, and it is capable of being usedwith both cables and overhead lines.

To address the challenge of locatingHVDC converter stations in demandingoffshore locations, ABB has worked witha leading player in the offshore sector todevelop an innovative, robust andscalable self-installed platform.

The new design addresses key issuessuch as efficient production and ease ofinstallation, as it requires only a minimallevel of offshore works, without the needfor a heavy-lift vessel or jack-upoperations. The design also offerscomplete flexibility within challenginginstallation programmes, as it can beinstalled in the waters of the North Sea,and elsewhere, at any time of the year.

The new platform is a key element inthe US$1 billion DolWin2 project, thelargest power transmission order inABB’s history. On behalf of TenneT, ABBis deploying the world’s largest offshoreHVDC system, with a rating of over 900 MW to connect offshore NorthSea wind farms to the German mainland grid.

There are several very large offshore windfarms – with a total capacity of some 25 to33 GW – now taking shape in Europeanwaters. The design, construction andoperation of large-scale power plants 100 km or more out to sea requiressignificant design and construction skills,especially in creating efficient and reliable links to bring the power to themainland grids.

Traditionally, High-Voltage AlternatingCurrent (HVAC) was the natural choice forelectrical power transmission. However, it isnot practical to use AC cables to transmitlarge amounts of power over distancesgreater than 50–70 km.

The alternative is High-Voltage DirectCurrent (HVDC) transmission that uses a

converter station to change the AC powerinto DC for transmission at high voltage,while a second converter station at the farend converts it back to AC for the local grid.ABB pioneered the commercial use ofclassic HVDC technology as far back as themid-1950s. It is used mainly for point-to-point, high-capacity bulk powertransmission links over long distances, or forthe interconnection of asynchronous grids.Its active components are high-powerthyristors. ABB’s most recent project isChina’s Jinping-Sunan ±800 kV Ultra High-Voltage Direct Current (UHVDC) linkthat will transmit 7,200 MW over a distanceof 2,090 km.

Over the past 14 years, ABB haspioneered a new generation of HVDC based

on Voltage Source Converter (VSC)technology – HVDC Light – which usesseries-connected power transistors ratherthan thyristor valves. It is ideal for integratingdispersed renewable generation, especiallywind power, into existing AC grids. It is alsoideal for smart transmission and smart gridsdue to its great flexibility and adaptability.

14-year track recordThe first commercial HVDC Light schemewas commissioned in Sweden in 1997.Since then, 13 projects have been put intooperation, with 25 converter stations and atotal capacity of over 5,000 MW and morethan 2,600 km of cable installed. HVDCLight has been used for the world’s longestland cable, the Murraylink (220 MW, 180 km)


HVDC


Grant McKay, Marketing and Sales Manager Grid Systemsfor ABB in the UK, explains how ABB’s enhanced CascadedTwo Level (CTL) HVDC Light technology is set to play a keyrole in the development of offshore wind farms.

HVDC makes light work ofoffshore wind farm connections

HVDC

Self-installedHVDC platform

ABB has been awarded a three-yearcontract by the Dutch-Germantransmission system operator, TenneTto provide maintenance services for theDolWin2 link, which brings power fromoffshore wind farms located in the NorthSea to the mainland German grid. Thecontract covers the maintenance of theland- and sea-based HVDC converterstations connecting the wind farms viaan offshore platform to the grid.

DolWin2 is the third offshore windconnection order for ABB in Germany,following the 800 MW DolWin1 linkawarded last year and the earlierBorWin1 project. ABB was previouslyentrusted by TenneT to providemaintenance services for the BorWin1and DolWin1 offshore wind farmtransmission connections.

Service order for DolWin2 project

BorWin1 HVDC platform incorporates a helicopter landing pad


HVDC


Peter Jones, Engineering Manager Grid Systems for ABB in theUK, outlines some of the challenges and possibilities involved inbuilding Europe’s new integrated offshore HVDC grid.

Building Europe’s integratedoffshore HVDC grid

HVDC

High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) linksare well established in applications such asbringing offshore wind power to shore,supplying oil and gas offshore platforms,interconnecting power grids in differentcountries and reinforcing existing AC grids.As the number of these point-to-point HVDC connections increases, it is becomingapparent that it would be beneficial toconnect them directly, rather than through the broader AC grid, as they arecurrently. This is giving rise to plans forHVDC supergrids.

Why an HVDC grid?Future plans to introduce remote renewablepower resources, such as wind power in theNorth Sea, solar power in North Africa andconnecting hydro power stations in theNordic countries, have created interest in thepossibility of an HVDC grid.

The value of an HVDC grid (offshore oronshore) is mainly in its role as a facilitatorfor power exchange and trading betweenregions and power systems. As such, it canintroduce additional flexibility to powersystems. Moreover, an offshore grid will

enable the aggregation and dispatch ofpower from offshore wind farms fromdifferent regions, resulting in powergeneration profiles of lower variability.

Technical challenges of HVDC gridsA reference project for constructing aregional grid with a limited number of nodesis already in place. The Québec–NewEngland project completed in the 1990s hasclearly demonstrated the feasibility of three-terminal HVDC systems at 2,000 MW. ABBis also delivering the world’s first multi-

terminal UHVDC link to transmit 8,000 MWof clean hydroelectric power from the north-eastern and eastern regions of India to thecity of Agra across a distance of 1,728 km.Four terminals, located at three converterstations will create power pooling points innorth-eastern region.

HVDC Light technology can provide evenbetter capabilities for operating regionalmulti-terminal systems, as the direction ofpower flow is changed by changing thedirection of the current, and not by changingthe polarity of the DC voltage. The terminalscan be connected to different points in thesame AC network or to different ACnetworks. The resulting HVDC grids can be radial, meshed, or a combination of the two.

ABB is already pioneering thedevelopment of the UK’s multi-terminaloffshore supergrid by starting technicaldesign work on an HVDC Light project. Thiswill be the first link to incorporate a hub forthe connection of offshore wind farms – the‘socket in the sea’ approach.

The capacity questionFor HVDC supergrids to becomecommercially viable, they might need to bebased on individual links of some 2 GW.Currently, the maximum rating for a singlebuilding block of ABB’s HVDC Lighttechnology at ±320 kV is above 1.1 GW.However, the technology is advancing andABB has recently secured a contract toprovide a monopolar 500 kV, 700 MW

HVDC Light system for the fourth HVDC link between Norway and Denmark. In abipolar configuration this would be 2 x 700=1,400 MW. It is reasonable, therefore, toanticipate that 2 GW HVDC Light bipolarlinks will be achievable within a realistic time-frame.

Based on the tremendous strides thatABB has already made in developing the current generation of HVDC, and with current cable technology development rates, we are confident thatthe residual technology gaps will soon be closed to make the European supergrida reality.

BRITNED – The first step in Europe’s supergrid

For smaller regional grids, the HVDCtechnology is available and ready to go now. However, the lack to date of asuitable circuit breaker has presented asignificant barrier to the creation of largeinter-regional grids. This is because therelatively low impedance in the DC gridmeans that, should a short-circuit faultoccur, the fault penetration is much fasterand deeper than in an AC grid. Fast andreliable HVDC breakers, capable ofclearing a fault within a few millisecondsare therefore required to avoid a collapseof the common DC voltage.

Existing mechanical HVDC breakers,capable of interrupting DC currents withinseveral tens of milliseconds, are too slowto fulfill the requirement of a reliable DCgrid. Furthermore, they are complexdevices which include additional passivecomponents to create the resonancecircuit required to generate current zerocrossing for successful breaking of thecurrent once the contacts open.

Semiconductor-based DC breakers can easily overcome the limitations in operation speed but generate largetransfer losses. ABB has now taken the

advantages of mechanical andsemiconductor designs and combinedthem in a prototype hybrid breaker thatoffers both fast operation and reducedtransfer losses.

ABB is also addressing a number ofother technical issues relating to multi-terminal grids including:

• Power flow control• Automatic network restoration• DC/DC converters for

connecting different regional systems.

Hybrid HVDC breaker

Hybrid DC Breaker

Main DC Breaker

Residual DC Current

Breaker

Current Limiting Reactor

Fast Disconnector Auxiliary DC Breaker


Grid code compliance


Typically, the grid code will demand thatpower plants of any kind should supportthe electricity grid, not just in normaloperation but also in the event of voltagedips. Some of the key considerations aresteady state and dynamic reactive powercapability, continuously acting voltagecontrol and fault ride-through behaviour.

Some commonly used turbine designsmay have limitations in meeting the gridcode requirements of particular countries.The solution is to install appropriate ‘add-on’ reactive power equipment to achievethe necessary grid code compliance foroperation and power production.

Reactive power compensationReactive power control provided bygenerators or capacitor banks alone maybe too slow for the sudden load changes

found in wind farms. There are twoappropriate reactive power compensationsolutions, the Static Var Compensator(SVC) and the STATic COMpensator(STATCOM).

The SVC is based on conventionalcapacitor banks, together with parallelthyristor-controlled inductive branches,which consume the excess of reactivepower generated by the capacitor bank.This type of equipment can be directlyconnected to the intermediate voltagebus, which interconnects the wind farms (up to 69 kV). When needed, it is also possible to connect the SVC to the high-voltage network via adedicated transformer.

The second, more advanced,approach to compensation for reactivepower is the use of a Voltage Source

Converter (VSC) incorporated as avariable source of reactive power.Compared with other solutions, a VSC is able to provide continuous control, very dynamic behaviour due to fastresponse times and, with single phasecontrol, compensation of unbalancedloads. The ultimate aim is to stabilize thegrid voltage and minimize any transientdisturbances.

ABB’s STATCOM technology providesthe following control features:• Power factor correction

(cos phi control)• Fast dynamic voltage control• Active harmonics cancellation• Flicker mitigation• Unsymmetrical load balancing

Stringent grid codes imposed by Europe’s transmission system operators (TSOs) tolimit the impact of intermittent generation on network power quality and stability canpresent a significant challenge for wind farm projects. ABB’s SVC and STATCOMtechnology can provide the answer.

Grid code compliance

A STATCOM is a purely static device,with no switched passive elements, whichprovides outstanding performance forboth steady-state and dynamic operation,with the added advantage of a smallinstallation footprint.

Reactive power requirementsIn the UK, grid code requirements call forreactive power compensation ofapproximately one-third of a wind farm’snominal active power. Since typicalonshore wind farms range from 30 MW to100 MW, the required reactive power is in the region of 10 MVar to 35 MVar. For large wind farms, of typically

several hundred MW, ABB recommendsthe more traditional SVC while, as a ruleof thumb, a STATCOM is appropriate forsmall to medium sized wind farms.

Typically, the very compact STATCOMpower electronic modules are placedinside a cabinet. This also houses other equipment such as the DC link,cooling system and controls. Only a few additional external components are needed, such as the STATCOMtransformer, grid filter and heat exchanger.

Typical applicationA typical STATCOM application is a wind farm in Scotland where it has

helped the operator overcome some initial difficulties in complying fully with the grid code requirements in terms of: steady-state reactive power supply;voltage control and dynamic reactivepower supply. It has also helped to meet harmonic requirements. Since the wind farm is connected via two 33 kV cable connections to the nearest 132 kV/33 kV substation, it is split into two parts that can also beconnected via a coupling switch.However, both wind farm strings are required to run autonomously.Therefore, two 12.5 MV ar units were installed.

ABB’s latest development to help windfarm operators achieve grid codecompliance is a containerizedSTATCOM unit that provides an easilytransportable source of reactive power.It is designed primarily to act as atemporary solution while the need for along-term, permanent reactive powerinstallation is assessed. The mobile unit

is housed in a standard shippingcontainer that incorporates the VSC,multi-voltage step-up transformer (toprovide flexibility of use betweendifferent countries) and associatedcontrol equipment. All the equipment isfactory-built and commissioned toprovide the fastest possibledeployment when it is delivered to site,

and only basic foundation work with asmall plinth is required.

A single modular unit can provide upto 10 MVar of reactive power, making it ideal for use with wind farms up toaround 30 MW. However, the modularapproach enables a number of units to be piggy-backed together to create larger solutions.

Containerized STATCOM

Cracking the grid code withreactive power compensation

Renewable energy capacity firming

This enables an intermittent electricity

supply resource to be used as a nearly

constant power source.

Deferred infrastructure upgrades

DES modules placed electrically

downstream from the congested portion

of the transmission system can help to

prevent overloads and defer potential

upgrades.

Power quality

DES can protect loads further

downstream against short-duration

events that affect the quality of power

delivered to the load.

Voltage support

Energy storage with reactive power

capability can provide voltage support and

respond quickly to voltage control signals.

Frequency regulation

DES is an attractive alternative for

frequency regulation with its rapid

response.

Outage management

DES can provide power for short periods

of time to a network, reducing the effect

of a temporary fault.

DynaPeaQ

ABB’s latest DES development is the

DynaPeaQ system that enables dynamic

control of both active and reactive

power in a power system independently

of each other. Through continuous

control of reactive power (P), grid

voltage and stability are safeguarded

with high dynamic response. The

capability for short-term support of

active power (Q) adds new services,

including black start capability and peak

load support.

The system, based on SVC Light

combined with advanced Li-ion battery

modules, is aimed at industrial,

distribution and transmission energy

storage applications. DynaPeaQ has

been developed to provide the optimum

mix of active and reactive power to

support grids under high stress

conditions. It features a modular,

scaleable design for the creation of

systems rated up to 50 MW for up

to 60 minutes.

UK Power Networks pilot installation

In May 2011, a pilot system was

commissioned on an 11 kV radial

distribution network operated by UK

Power Networks (UKPN) at a site north of

Hemsby in Norfolk. The battery capacity

is sufficient to provide 200 kW of power

continuously for one hour, and 600 kW

peak output is possible for short

durations. In addition to the real power

capability, a reactive power source/sink

rated at 600 kVar is also always available.

The DynaPeaQ has been placed at a

normally open point near the remote ends

of two 11 kV feeders from different

substations. Only one feeder is

connected to the system at any single

moment, but it is easy to switch between

feeders. Physical network information

such as line and transformer data was

provided by UKPN as well as half-hourly

operational data comprising feeder

current and distributed generation output.

A mixture of residential areas, rural

areas and seasonally occupied

accommodation are supplied by the

feeders in this region. The typical load on

the feeders is 1.15 MW and 1.30 MW with

peaks of 2.3 MW and 4.3 MW

respectively. A wind farm with 2.25 MW

installed capacity is attached midway

along the first of these feeders. This

installation has fixed speed induction

generators, so there is significant reactive

power demand while generating.

Daily load profiles show that the two

feeders have quite different

characteristics. On the first, the most

significant demand occurs during the

night, as there are a high number of

homes heated by night storage heaters.

Summer loading is lower than that during

winter. The second feeder has much less

storage heating, and in this case summer

loading is higher than during winter.

These dissimilar characteristics mean that

events requiring grid support are likely to

occur at different times, maximizing the

utilization of this pilot system.

The installation is now undergoing

operational testing and its effectiveness is

being carefully monitored in collaboration

with the University of Durham. Potentially,

this solution could be replicated across

parts of the UK where wind farms

connect to the grid.


Energy storage


ABB’s Distributed Energy Storage (DES) systems perform a varietyof different functions in transmission and distribution networks,where they can improve power quality at optimal cost.

Energy storage –

Energy storage

smoothing the transition to smarter grids

In the past, networks only needed to

handle a simple, passive flow of power

from high-voltage generation and

transmission to low-voltage consumption.

Energy storage can enable networks to

make the transition to handling complex,

highly variable and multi-directional

power flows to accommodate: increased

levels of distributed generation; the

potential transition of energy sources

currently on the heat grid on to the

electrical grid (for example, ground

and air-source heat pumps); and the

growing demand for electric vehicles.

The main DES applications are:

Load-shifting and peak-shaving

This involves altering the pattern of

energy use so that on-peak energy use is

shifted to off-peak periods. To reduce the

end-user’s electricity cost, the DES

charges up with low-priced energy and is

discharged when the energy prices are

high. Peak-shaving uses stored energy to

eliminate the short-term peaks in the

energy consumption pattern. Both

contribute to demand management in

which the ultimate goal is to increase the

load factor. Benefits include:

a) Commercial and industrial customers

can reduce their energy charges by

improving their load factor

b) Utilities reduce the operational cost of

generating power at peak periods

(reducing the need for additional

generation equipment)

c) Investment in infrastructure is deferred

because the system has flatter loads

with smaller peaks.

DynaPeaQ combines SVC Light technology

with advanced Li-ion battery modules

Pilot energy storage system for UK Power Networks

Key role for Hadyard Hill wind farm ABB power transformers and associatedhigh-voltage switchgear and controlequipment played a key role in connectingSSE’s 120 MW Hadyard Hill wind farmdevelopment, commissioned in 2006, toScotland’s main power transmission grid.

For the Hadyard Hill project, ABBsupplied two 90 MVA 132/33 kV power transformers, an 11-panel 33 kVswitchboard, two 5 MVar capacitors, a 145 kV dead tank circuit breaker, six CVTs, six surge arrestors and line traps.

PASS MO saves space for distribution substations ABB’s innovative PASS MO space-savinghybrid AIS and GIS switchgear module cansave up to 70 per cent of the space normallyrequired for a conventional AIS substation.This enables wind farm operators to makeoptimum use of the restricted installationfootprint often available for the constructionof a suitable distribution substation. It alsoreduces the need for civil works such asfoundations, steelwork and cable trenching operations.

The PASS MO design, which has fullEnergy Networks Association (ENA) andScottishPower approvals is based on ahybrid of ABB’s traditional AIS and metal-clad GIS switchgear units. Rated at up to145 kV, it integrates all the necessarysubstation switchgear bay functions,including a circuit breaker, one or more combined disconnector/earthingswitches, bushings for connection to singleor double busbar systems and a currenttransformer in one compact module,eliminating the need for separate pieces ofequipment for each function.

ABB supplies the PASS MO module asa completely pre-fabricated, pre-wired andpre-tested unit. It fits into a standard truckcontainer for delivery without any specialpackaging. No special arrangements will beneeded for shipping and transportation, andonce on site just a simple 30° rotation of theouter poles is needed for the final layout.

A key feature of the PASS MO is itsvirtually maintenance-free design. The lineand busbar disconnectors, as well as theearthing switches, are integrated within thebreaking chamber. This gives thesecomponents complete immunity from allenvironmental conditions, ensuring lifelong reliability, and eliminating routine maintenance of high-voltage parts.This overcomes a major weakness of AIS substations.


Substations


Substations are a key element in thetransmission and distribution ofrenewable energy. ABB is a world leaderin the design, installation andcommissioning of gas insulatedswitchgear (GIS) and air insulatedswitchgear (AIS) substations up to 800 kVincluding the negotiation of wayleavesand easements and all civil engineeringworks. At the medium-voltage (MV) level,ABB’s ZX series compact, modular gasinsulated primary switchgear is the idealchoice for renewable energy installations.

ABB’s comprehensive service alsocovers offshore substations and collectorstations, including the design, layout and supply of all 33 kV and 132 kVswitchgear and transformers, togetherwith standby power and deluge systemsfor fire protection.

Connecting the world’s largest offshorewind farm National Grid’s Electricity Alliance Central(EAC), comprising ABB, Atkins andMorgan Sindall, is constructing a new 400 kV substation at Cleve Hill, nearFaversham, Kent. This will form a keyelement of the 1,000 MW London Array –which will be the world’s largest offshorewind farm when it starts operation in 2012.

The Cleve Hill scheme requires theconstruction of a five-bay 400 kV GISindoor substation and associatedinfrastructure on a greenfield site. Thelocation of the substation, which is cutinto the side of Cleve Hill, means that it issubject to strict planning constraints withregard to its design and size, and theproject has required careful design andplanning in order to gain approval fromthe local authority.

Offshore substation for Thornton Bankwind farmABB is currently working on a majorcontract for C-Power NV to link theThornton Bank wind farm, 30 km off thecoast of Belgium, to the mainland grid.

The transmission link is part of anexpansion of the Thornton Bank windfarm. In the first phase of its development,six wind turbines with a capacity of 30 MW were temporarily connected to themainland by ABB. The second and thirdphases of the project involve adding 48wind turbines to the wind farm andpermanently connecting all three phases,taking its overall capacity to 325 MW.

ABB is responsible for the systemengineering, design, supply andcommissioning of the offshore AC

substation and the platform that willhouse it, as well as the underwater andland-based cable systems.

The wind turbines will be connectedvia underwater medium-voltage cables tothe offshore transformer station, wherethe voltage will be boosted to 150 kV andconnected to the mainland grid. Theelectricity will be fed into the grid at theSlijkens substation located at Bredene,about 3 km inland.

Substations –the core of electrical power transmission and distribution

Substations

ABB offers world-leading GIS substation technology

Hadyard Hilll wind farm substation

PASS MO space-saving switchgear module

BIOTEMP: the greener, safer, longer-lifetransformer oil

Super-slim switchgear for wind turbinesSafeWind, ABB’s new tailor-madeswitchgear for wind turbines, is theslimmest medium-voltage switchgear onthe market, and is small enough to fitthrough the narrow doorway of theturbine tower.

Designed specifically to meet theswitchgear requirements of wind turbinemanufacturers for compactness, safety andflexibility, SafeWind is a complete range ofsecondary distribution GIS systems foronshore and offshore applications in theglobal wind power market.

The standard width of tower doorwaysand non-ABB switchgear panels is 600 mm. This means that the switchgearhas to be installed on site before thetower is lowered on to it, or it has to bebuilt into a secondary substation besidethe tower.

The 36/40.5 kV variant of SafeWind,on the other hand, has a width of only420 mm. This means it fits easily throughthe doorway and can be installed after thetower has been raised, giving wind

turbine manufacturers a more rational andless costly option. It also frees up valuablespace and provides greater flexibilitywhen arranging and installing theelectrical equipment in the confinedinterior of the tower.

Available in 12 kV, 24 kV, 36 kV and40.5 kV ratings, SafeWind is part of ABB’s hugely successful SafeRing andSafePlus portfolio of GIS systems forsecondary distribution.

All live parts and switchingcomponents are protected in a stainless steel tank to ensure the highestlevels of reliability and safety, as well as a long and trouble-free service life inthe harsh and often inaccessibleenvironments that are typical of wind farms.

ABB’s ability to tailor SafeWind tomeet the preferences and specificationsof individual wind turbine manufacturersenables them to use a standardizedswitchgear solution in all marketsworldwide, including the preferred 40.5 kV GB (national standard) rating in China.


Grid connection products


TransformersABB transformers have a compact designthat enables the transformer to beinstalled through the tower door, withoutdisassembly. They are engineered toreduce losses and operate inenvironments with high vibration andharsh ambient conditions where salt,sand, dust, and relative humidity of 100 percent are common.

• Dry transformers up to 72.5 kV and 40 MVA

• Liquid-filled transformers up to 72.5 kV and 40 MVA

• Classes E2, C2, F1 • Multiple forced-cooling system

solutions • Insulation system temperature

up to 180°C for dry transformers • Organic liquid cooling options• Suitable for onshore and offshore

wind turbines.

Stepping up for Greater Gabbard projectABB is supplying the turbine step-uptransformers that are vital to the operation of the Greater Gabbard wind farmin the North Sea, where 140 wind turbineswill provide a peak capacity of 504 MW.

An ABB transformer is being installedin the foundation of every turbine tower,where it steps up the 690 V output fromthe turbine to the 33 kV required forconnection to the inter-turbine array andoffshore substation platforms. Thetransformers are housed in a chamberlocated in the transition piece, betweenthe base platform and the tower. ABB’s690 V/33 kV liquid-filled, ground-mounted, step-up transformers, rated at4,000 kVA, are the optimum solution to fitthe very tight space available, withcooling, location of auxiliary equipmentand overall size being critical factors.

The flexibility of ABB’s transformerdesign was vital, as this enabled it to betailored to meet the changing demandsas the overall design of the transitionpiece evolved.

EcoDry transformers cut energy lossesby up to 70 percent ABB’s new EcoDry range of ultra-efficient, dry-type distributiontransformers can reduce transformerenergy losses by up to 70 percentcompared with standard dry-typetransformers. This helps reduce energycosts and improve environmentalperformance.

EcoDry transformers achieve higherefficiency levels through the use of state-of-the-art materials and components,including amorphous metal as the core material, as well as the latestsimulation methods for loss-optimizeddesign. They are available in ratings from100 to 3,150 kVA, with operating voltageup to 36 kV.

The EcoDry range includes threemodels. Each is designed to meet thedifferent needs of applications wherelosses are either predominantly ‘no-load’losses (caused by fluctuatingmagnetization of, and eddy currents in,the transformer core), or ‘load’ losses(which occur in the conductors due toohmic loss and eddy currents, andincrease quadratically with the load), or acombination of the two – such as inrenewable energy schemes.

Globally, ABB estimates that some twopercent of all electricity generated is lostas a result of distribution transformerinefficiency – equating to 25 GW ofpower. ABB’s next generation of low-lossdry and liquid-filled amorphousdistribution transformers can effectivelyreduce overall losses, contributing toenergy savings, lower operating costsand reduced environmental impact.

Grid connection products enable the distribution of thepower generated by turbines tothe wind power plant’s collectionnetwork. The turbine’s transformerand switchgear are the maincomponents of this system.

Wind powerplant gridconnectionproducts

Grid connection products

In order to deliver more reliable, cleanerpower to their customers, many power utilities are focusing their attention on enhancing the environmental,safety and operational performance ofboth new and existing powertransformers. ABB BIOTEMP dielectricinsulating fluid is helping to meet this need through the innovative use ofrenewable, biodegradable vegetable oil to deliver high-performance powertransformer insulation.

BIOTEMP offers significantenvironmental, fire safety and operationaladvantages over mineral oil and otheralternative insulating fluids.


Power cables


ABB has the proven capability to designand install the ideal cable system for awide variety of applications, taking intoaccount production costs, installationcosts, power losses and operational costs.Cable technologies and services include:• Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE)

cable systems for AC• HVDC Light cable systems for DC• Mass-impregnated (MI) paper-

insulated cable systems for DC • Cable accessories• Offshore and onshore cable laying,

installation, burial and protection• Onshore cable• Project management and

commissioning.

Submarine power cablesABB power cables are proven to be highlyreliable. XLPE cables have high chemicalresistance to oil and solvents, excellenttensile strength and high abrasionresistance. They can withstand highshort-circuit temperatures and have very good dimensional stability at temperatures above 90°C.XLPE cables also have a high AC voltagebreakdown strength. ABB can also offerdynamic power cables, which canaccommodate the movement of floating platforms.

In offshore windfarm applications,HVDC Light uses XLPE cables with acopper or aluminium conductor

surrounded by a polymeric insulatingmaterial, which is very strong and robust.

To see how these cables compare withconventional AC cables, consider therequirements for a 550 MW subseaconnection over a distance of 75 km. Foran AC scheme, three single-core 220 kVXLPE cables would be required with acopper conductor cross-section of 1600mm2 and copper wire tensile armour. Theweight of the three cables is 3 x 60 kg/m= 180 kg/m. However, an HVDC Lightlink would require only two 150 kV cableswith a copper conductor cross-section of1400 mm2 and steel wire tensile armour.The weight of the two cables is 2 x 32kg/m = 64 kg/m, or around one-third of

ABB is a world leading manufacturer of high-voltage power cablesfor land and subsea applications. Our knowhow, derived from yearsof experience in delivering power interconnections around theglobe, is a valuable asset for the onshore and offshore renewableenergy industries.

Power cables for land and sea

Power cables

the AC scheme. This weight savingreduces both the cable cost andinstallation cost, while the shorter totalcable length (for two HVDC cablesinstead of three AC cables) also reducesfactory production timescales.

Vessels secured to boost cableinstallation capabilityABB has boosted its capacity to meet theever-growing demand for its submarinecable project management andinstallation services by signing three keystrategic agreements.

First, ABB has agreed to charter a newvessel from Aker Solutions for use insubsea cable installation. The state-of-the-art ship, with a 9,000 tonne capacity,will be equipped to install heavy powercables across long distances. The vessel,to be named Aker Connector, is currentlyunder construction and expected to beoperational from 2012.

Under the terms of the agreement,ABB will charter the vessel for 2012 and2013, with an option to extend thecontract for a further three years. Inaddition to the cable-laying vessel, Aker Solutions will also provide a range of related engineering, projectmanagement and installation services

for the execution of marine and offshore projects.

ABB has also contracted the cable-laying vessel Team Oman for five yearsfrom the ship’s owner Topaz Energy andMarine. The contract is a continuation ofABB’s existing two-year charter of TeamOman, and the length of the newcontract, which goes live in early 2012,will enable significant upgrades to bemade to the vessel.

Most recently, ABB has signed acooperation agreement with CanyonOffshore for trenching services.Established in 1996 and now part of HelixEnergy Solutions Group Inc, CanyonOffshore has established its credentials as one of the world’s most innovative and reliable marine contractors, withspecialized solutions for underwater andunmanned services in extremeenvironments. The company has anexpanding fleet of purpose-built trenching vessels and access to a largefleet of dynamically positioned vesselscapable of responding to extremeweather conditions.

Connecting Burbo Bank offshore wind farm In 2007 ABB delivered all the submarine

cables for Dong Energy’s 90 MW Burbo Bank offshore wind farm project in Liverpool Bay. This included 40 km of XLPE-armoured 36 kV three-core AC cable, with integrated optical fibre for remote monitoring andcontrol. The cable interconnects an array of 25 3.6 MW wind turbines on Burbo Bank, in Liverpool Bay at the entrance of the River Mersey, and transports the power 6.5 km to the shore.

Comprehensive service forNorthamptonshire’s first wind farm ABB provided a comprehensive electricalinfrastructure service to connectNorthamptonshire’s first wind farm, atBurton Wold, to the local powerdistribution network. The project includedmaking the individual cable links between10 wind turbines, fitting out the sitesubstation and commissioning the main33 kV cable that now feeds up to 20 MW of renewable power into the local grid.

Burton Wold wind farm startedoperation in May 2006. The project wasdeveloped by Your Energy Ltd, is ownedby Mistral Windfarms and operated byEngineering Renewables Ltd.

Installing BorWin1 HVDC Light land cableHVDC Light cables

Team Oman cable-laying vessel


Network management


IEC 61850-based substation protection and control scheme for offshore wind farABB has successfully completed arigorous factory acceptance test (FAT) forthe state-of-the-art substation protectionand control systems destined for a newoffshore wind farm project in the NorthSea. The project for the substationproviding the wind farm’s onshoreconnection is a significant development .It is ABB’s first UK implementation of theglobal IEC 61850 standard thatrepresents a major step forward insimplifying the integration of intelligentelectronic devices (IEDs).

The offshore wind farm consists of 27 turbines producing 200 GWh/yexported by 33 kV subsea cables to theonshore substation on England’s north-east coast. Here it will be stepped up bytwo grid transformers to 66 kV so it canbe fed into the regional and national grids.

ABB was awarded the contract toprovide the complete protection andcontrol system for the onshoresubstation. According to Andy Osiecki,ABB’s General Manager for PowerSystem Network Management, “Theproject has been a significant challenge,working not only with a new customer,but also a whole new technical approachthat effectively required us to start with ablank sheet of paper, combined with theneed to ensure fast-track delivery. In fact,the whole process from design,engineering, building the panels, carryingout the FAT and shipping them to site wasaccomplished in just three months.”

The adoption by ABB of the IEC 61850international standard for substationautomation offers significant technicaladvantages through its flexible opensystem architecture. These include astandardized model of the IEDs and theirdata and communication services, full

interoperability between electrical devicesfrom different vendors, reduced cablingand effective future-proofing of theinfrastructure by making it easy to extendand update as needs change.

The protection and control system forthe onshore substation is based on IEDsfrom ABB’s Relion® family of equipmentdeveloped specifically to implement thecore values of the IEC 61850 standard.They include Relion RET 650, RET 630and RET 615 transformer protection and control devices. As an example of the ease of integration with third-party equipment, the schemeincorporates an automatic voltage control (AVC) device supplied by another manufacturer.

One of the key technical challengessolved by ABB in designing the systemwas to ensure that it meet the needs ofthe engineering recommendation G59,that sets out the standards required

ABB has developed a broad portfolio of network management and utilitycommunications solutions that monitor, control, operate and protect theworld’s power systems. They enable utilities and independent systemoperators to manage their transmission grids, distribution networks,power generation facilties and energy trading markets in real time.

Effective management forrenewable energy networks

Network management

for the connection of a generating plant to the distribution systems of a licensed Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

The FAT for the panels was carried outat ABB’s unique automated SystemVerification Simulator (SVS) based atStone, Staffordshire. Rather than carrying

out manual switching of equipment tosimulate the operation of substation plant,the SVS is able to duplicate the wholesubstation within the test laboratory. Itruns automated, self-monitoring testsequences to provide a high level ofrigour and repeatability as well as a full audit trail.

“This onshore substation is a vitalreference project that confirms ABB’scapability to deliver IEC 61850 substation projects,” concludes AndyOsiecki. “It is proof positive that this keynew development in substation design ismaking the transition from the laboratoryto practical, real-world applications.”

FAT for offshore wind farm substation project

The new Electricity Balancing System(EBS) is a reliable, robust, secure, and flexible solution which will enable National Grid to manage the energy market to ensure a balance of supply and demand minute-by-minute.

The ABB MMS system has beendeployed in several markets around theworld, and was recently implemented inIreland with the Single Energy MarketOperator (SEMO).

National Grid’s new EBS is plannedto come on line in 2013, and willprovide the flexibility to facilitate themarket integration of renewable energysources, providing applications such asautomated dispatch and transmissionsecurity, while minimizing the impact on market participants. The solution will support scheduling, real-timemanagement, external interfaces and overall systems integration withNational Grid’s main energy

management systems and the marketsettlement system.

MMS is part of the NetworkManager suite offered by Ventyx, whichwas acquired by ABB in 2010. Ventyxprovides enterprise software, energymarkets data and professional services that enable energy, utility, communications and otherasset-intensive organizations tooptimize operational efficiency and productivity.

Following an extensive system qualification and competitive bidprocess, ABB’s Network Manager™ Market Management System(MMS) has been selected by National Grid to replace its currentmarket system for managing the UK’s total electricity demand of morethan 55,000 MW.

Managing the energy marketfor National Grid


Wind turbine subsystems


ABB has introduced a new range of windpower generators that combine astandard base construction withcustomized interface connections, whichreduces costs for turbine manufacturersand shortens delivery times.

“The new range results from marketintelligence that revealed major changestaking place in the wind turbine industry,”says Raimo Sakki, R&D Manager for windpower generators at ABB. “Previouslywind power generators had proprietarycomponents, custom-designed to fit anindividual manufacturer’s turbines. Wesaw that turbine manufacturers wereshowing interest in standard generators –provided that they were specificallydesigned for wind turbines.”

Accordingly, ABB took the strategicdecision to complement its proprietarygenerators with a new range of standardunits based on its own platform. Marketsurveys helped map out the detailedrequirements. While the new generatorswould be standardized as much aspossible in order to maximize the benefitsof large-scale production, they alsoneeded the flexibility to accommodatedifferent manufacturers’ interface needs.ABB chose a modular approach, buildingthe required interface flexibility around acore made from a relatively small numberof basic components.

The first product family built on ABB’s standard platform is the new

1.5–2.0 MW slip-ring generator seriesdeveloped to fit most doubly-fed (DF)turbines. They feature an enhanced rotordesign with patented carbon-fibrewinding-end support rings. Thisinnovative solution enhances overspeedwithstand and improves cooling of therotor winding and connections, resultingin better overall reliability. The newplatform was designed to be easilyexpandable and also serve as a basis forpermanent magnet (PM) and inductiongenerators.

Shortly afterwards, ABB launchedanother product series, the 2.5–3.5 MWhigh-speed PM generator, which sharesthe same basic platform as the DF series;they are mechanically interchangeable,meaning wind turbine manufacturers mayuse the same drivetrain design for both

types of generators). This makes it easyfor turbine manufacturers to expand theirexisting DF offering to also include fullconverter (FC) PM turbines. A customerusing a DF system who would like to testa PM generator can order a unit withidentical fixings and interfaces that can besimply ‘slotted in’ to replace the DF unit.

“One of the major benefits of thestandard-platform approach is thatdevelopment cycles speed up,” saysRaimo Sakki. “That means much fasterprototype delivery times for customers.Previously, a custom-designed generatorwould typically take about nine monthsto develop, but now the standardplatform has cut this time by about half.The engineering work alone has beenreduced from four months to just four weeks.”

Perfect pitch for wind turbine subsystems

Wind turbine subsystems

ABB is supplying medium-voltagefrequency converters, designedspecifically for use in wind turbines, forthe Global Tech 1 wind park inGermany’s North Sea.

There is an optimum rotor speed forevery grade of wind velocity. As aresult, the frequency of the generatedcurrent varies with the grade of thewind speed. The frequency converteradjusts the current to a fixed frequencyso that it can be fed into the grid.

The ABB MV converters with apower rating of more than 5 MW areconstructed from modules usingintegrated gate-commutated thyristor(IGCT) technology. This has made it

possible to build compact convertersthat fit on a single deck inside the tower of the AREVA M5000 wind turbines.

Frequency converters for AREVA Wind Wind turbines comprise many subsystems working in unison to ensure,the safe, reliable and efficient production of power. ABB products are usedthroughout these subsystems including:

• electrical drivetrain• grid connection system• turbine control and protection system• yaw and pitch systems• electrical protection and disconnect systems• lightning protection systems• hydraulic and cooling systems• auxiliary systems.

Standardized platform concept for lower cost generators

Powerful toolsThe ABB concept includes powerful toolsthat calculate the best type of solar paneland solution for a given site and thenuances of its altitude and climate. All thepower and automation equipment isoptimized to increase productivity andreduce power losses; it includes high-efficiency inverters, reliable dry-typetransformers and specially designedtechnologies for the accurate control andremote monitoring of the plant.

The ABB turnkey solution comprisesdesign, engineering, supply (includingsolar modules), erection, civil works,commissioning and, once the plant is up and running, service andmaintenance, including remote monitoringand diagnostics.

Extended functionality for central invertersABB PVS800 central inverters for large and medium-sized photovoltaicpower plants are now compatible with the latest German regulationsspecified by the BDEW and VDEWguidelines. These new regulations wererequired due to the high penetration of renewable energy in Germany’sdistribution networks.

Modern inverters must be able to support network voltage and frequency and therefore sustain networkstability and maximize capacity. This will enable a smooth increase of installed solar capacity. These new functionalities include:

• LV ride-through – supports networkduring a disturbance

• LV ride-through with current feeding –dynamically supports network duringa disturbance

• Reactive power control – supportsnetwork voltage

• Active power control – supportsnetwork frequency control.

In addition, ABB central inverters nowhold the Golden Sun certificate requiredfor Chinese solar markets.

The regulations vary from country to country but, together with the ABBcentral inverters’ earlier certificates andfunctionalities, the new features nowmake it possible to meet all applicablenetwork connection requirements.

Desertec – the solar power supergridABB and 11 other companies created theDesertec Industrial Initiative in 2009, theobjective of which is to interconnect thepower grids of Europe, the Middle Eastand North Africa, generate large amountsof electricity in the region’s deserts andtransport it to consumers via a solarpower supergrid.

Two technologies have been singledout by the Desertec Foundation as themost efficient and sustainable to generate

and transport large volumes of electricpower: HVDC, a power transmissiontechnology pioneered by ABB in the1950s; and CSP plants, a technology thatABB helped develop in the early 1990s.

CSP was selected by Desertec for itsability to produce a round-the-clocksupply of power, by storing heat in moltensalt and using it to generate electricityafter sundown; and HVDC was chosen forits ability to transport electric power overdistances of several thousand kilometreswith exceptionally low power losses.


Solar power


Since then ABB has been involved at apioneering stage in many of thephotovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solarpower (CSP) technologies that have beendeveloped and deployed worldwide. As aresult ABB has built up unique expertisein how best to harness, control and storesolar energy and efficiently convert it intoreliable electricity, ready for transfer intothe local power grid.

Complete solar portfolioABB’s portfolio of products, systems andsolutions ranges from turnkey PV plantsto complete power and automationsolutions for CSP plants and forcommercial, industrial and residentialrooftop PV installations. In addition, ABB offers a complete portfolio oflifecycle services – including remotemonitoring and diagnostics – to ensurethe efficient and cost-effective operationof solar power.

Fast-track PV plantsABB offers a fast-track modular conceptfor turnkey PV plants – a ‘one partner,one solution’ answer to the needs ofcustomers operating in the global PVmarket. This approach combines a highlevel of customization, rapid delivery, andsystem optimization technologies thatenable the plants to generate around 15 percent more energy than alternative

designs. Rapid delivery is facilitated by ABB’s well-proven concept of pre-assembled, factory-tested electricalbalance of plant modules, and byexpertise in project execution. Thisenables ABB to cut weeks offconventional delivery times and complete installation and commissioningwithin a few months of signing the contract.

ABB has been active in the solar power industry since the 1980s when wedeveloped an automation platform for the world’s first test facility forconcentrating solar power technologies at the Plata-forma Solar deAlmería (PSA) in Spain.

Focus on solar power

Solar power

PVS 800 central inverters for PV plant


Hydropower


ABB is the world’s leading supplier of just about every productin the power and automation scope of supply for hydropowerplants – from generator circuit breakers and power transformersto switchgear, motors, drives and plant automation andprotection systems.

This unique single-source capability enables ABB to providecomplete and fully integrated instrumentation, control andelectrical (ICE) solutions with a single user interface. The benefitsare numerous and substantial. They include reduced exposureto technical and commercial risk, the elimination of multi-vendor interfaces, and improved resource levelling. ABB integrated ICE solutions have shown time and again that they enable customers to save time, reduce costs andmanage risk.

A single supplier for the plant’s entire lifecycleABB’s core competencies extend throughout the entire valuechain and lifecycle of a hydropower plant. They encompassplant engineering of the electrical, instrumentation and controlsystems and their integration into a seamless and

optimized whole, as well as project management and the installation and commissioning of the entire ABB solution.

When the project is completed and the plant up and running, ABB supports its customers with a comprehensive portfolio of lifecycle services that ranges from spare parts and equipment repair, to training, remote monitoring and technical support.

From products and systems to water-to-wire solutionsAlongside its integrated ICE solutions, ABB cooperates with leading manufacturers of turbines, generators andmechanical balance of plant to offer complete electro-mechanical packages for water-to-wire projects in hydropowerplants of all sizes.

ABB’s electrical balance of plant capability covers the entire power path, from the generator terminals to the high-voltage grid connection. Our core competencies extendfrom plant engineering to project and site management,installation, commissioning, testing, and lifecycle maintenance and support.

Harnessing water power

Hydropower

The pumped storage plant will beinstalled in an underground cavern andwill be used to pump water from a lowerreservoir in the valley to an upperreservoir 600 metres above the plant.During peak demand, water will bereleased from the upper reservoir togenerate high-value power.

The plant will make an importantcontribution toward covering the need for

peak power throughout Switzerland. Thefirst of four generator sets is scheduled togo into operation at the end of 2015, withthe fourth generator set to be ready bymid-2016.

ABB’s comprehensive scope of supplyincludes the generator connections, mainand auxiliary transformers, medium-voltage and low-voltage switchgear, DCsupply and emergency power system,

field instrumentation and the plantprocess control system. ABB will alsodeliver a 380 kV gas insulated substation,which will feed electricity from the plant tothe grid.

ABB is already executing a relatedproject for KLL, supplying two turnkeysubstations and auxiliary powerequipment for the nearby Tierfehdhydropower plant.

ABB’s outstanding reference list for pumped storage plants and itsability to provide an integrated instrumentation, control andelectrical (ICE) solution were key factors in winning a major contractfrom Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern (KLL) for a new 1,000 MW hydropumped storage plant in Switzerland.

Integrated ICE solution for high-capacity pumped storage power plant

ABB has been developing technologies and providing solutions for the hydropowerindustry for more than 125 years – a legacy that goes back to the earliest days ofABB’s history and its pioneering position in the development of the generation anddistribution of electrical energy. In this time, ABB has supplied power and automationequipment for more than 300 hydropower plants all over the world – from smallinstallations of one or two MW, to huge hydroelectric power plants like Guri inVenezuela, which generates 10 GW of electricity.

Marchtrenk hydropower plant in Austria


Wave power


Essentially, Aquamarine’s Oyster wavepower device is a wave-powered pumpthat pipes high pressure water to drive aconventional onshore hydroelectricturbine. The system is easier to install and maintain than other wave powergeneration systems, and has won a number of renewable energy innovation awards.

The Oyster consists of a buoyant,hinged mechanical flap which is attachedto the seabed at depths of between 10 and 15 metres, around half a kilometre

from shore – the nearshore area. Oyster’shinged flap, which is almost entirelyunderwater, pitches backwards andforwards in the nearshore waves. Themovement of the flap drives two hydraulicpistons which push high pressure wateronshore via a subsea pipeline to drive the turbine.

In the future, subsea pipelines willconnect multiple Oyster wave energydevices to a single onshore plant.Ultimately Oyster will be installed in wavefarms of several hundred connected

devices generating hundreds of MWs of electricity.

By locating Oyster in the nearshore, itis possible to capture a high proportion ofthe energy available in the ocean whilstavoiding the severe storms which occurfurther out to sea.

In November 2009, the first full-scale demonstrator Oyster beganproducing power at the European MarineEnergy Centre based in the OrkneyIslands, Scotland.

ABB Technology Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm, has madea major investment in Aquamarine Power, a Scottish company that hasdeveloped technology to convert energy captured from waves near shoreinto clean, usable electricity.

The world of wave power is ABB’s Oyster

Wave power

ABB has made a strategic investmentin Pentalum Technologies, a companydeveloping advanced wind-sensingtechnology for control andoptimization of wind turbines andwind farms.

Pentalum is developing aninnovative light detection and ranging(LIDAR) technology that remotelysenses the wind vector in front ofwind turbines in order to optimallyalign them to incoming wind flow.Pentalum’s system is also applicableto wind forecasting and siteassessment, and is designed tosignificantly increase wind farmefficiency at a lower cost per site thanexisting measurement technologies.

ABB adds LIDAR to its windpower portfolio

Oyster under construction

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