Researchers collaborate to prevent faults in offshore wind farm cables

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is a partner in a new research project to design a system which detects and prevents high voltage insulation faults in subsea power cables for offshore wind farms.

Funded by the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) Offshore Wind Component Technologies Development and Demonstration Scheme, GCU lecturer and researcher Dr Alistair Reid will work with High Voltage Partial Discharge Ltd (HVPD), Alstom Grid, and the University of Strathclyde on the nine-month project. The scheme supports projects which will work towards lowering the costs of generating offshore wind energy.

Offshore wind has tremendous potential to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, help cut carbon and help meet the UK’s renewables targets. Approximately 30% of the UK’s electricity is predicted to come from renewable sources by 2020. DECC claims there is potential to drive down costs of offshore wind by 25% by 2020 and 60% by 2050, but further investment is needed in this area.

“If there is a cable fault, particularly subsea, it is extremely costly to repair," said Dr Reid, a lecturer and researcher in electronic and electrical engineering, with interests in diagnostic monitoring techniques and systems for early warning of catastrophic events. "GCU’s labs can generate any form of supply voltage. We will use these facilities to apply different types of voltage stressing to cable insulation, interpret the signals and propose new solutions to predicting failures before they occur."   

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Source: Renewableenergyfocus.com

New AC Grid Access Solution from Siemens

• Siemens presents new AC grid access solution at the EWEA Offshore conference in Copenhagen
• One third smaller in size and weight compared to a conventional platform
• Costs for offshore substation will be reduced by up to 40 percent

Siemens has launched a new alternating-current (AC) grid access solution at EWEA Offshore conference in Copenhagen for connecting near-shore wind power plants to the grid. It replaces the conventional AC transformer platforms. The new solution consists of an offshore transformer module (OTM) attached directly to a wind turbine, and acts as a distributed transmission asset.


Innovation instead of substation: The new alternating current (AC) grid access solution from Siemens consists of an offshore transformer module (OTM) attached to a wind turbine, and acts as a distributed transmission asset.


Nominally rated in incremental 250 megawatt blocks it can be linked together to provide the required transmission capacity even for very large wind parks. The new device can be installed on a wind turbine foundation separately. As an alternative, it can be installed at the transition piece between foundation and turbine shaft like a balcony. It is suitable for all wind power turbine models.

The substation of the grid access represents an important lever for reaching Siemens' goal of reducing the costs of wind power generated offshore to below 10 euro cts/kWh by 2020: Construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the platform account for a high portion of the total grid access costs. These costs will be reduced by up to 40 percent with the new solution, which is one third smaller in size and weight compared to a conventional AC platform. This innovation is small and light enough to be mounted together with a turbine on the same foundation. This eliminates the need for a special heavy lift vessel and saves additional costs. Furthermore, installation time will be shortened by around 20 percent, also due to better availability of standard service operation vessels.

Focusing on the core electrical equipment and removing a number of optional ancillary systems made this space and weight reduction possible, which also results in a reduced maintenance regime – no fans and diesel generators are necessary. Moreover, the use of ester liquids instead of mineral oil makes this solution extremely environmentally friendly. Esters liquids have a low flammability and are biodegradable which is very important for operations at sea.

In addition, Siemens offers a wide choice and flexibility to customers, as it has also optimized its conventional platform solution based upon knowledge from more than ten grid connections with AC technology.


Source: Siemens

HVDC Transmission Market by Technology- Forecast Analysis to 2014 - 2020

HVDC Transmission Market by Technology (LCC & VSC), Configuration (Back to Back, Monopolar, Bipolar, Multi-Terminal), Power Rating (Below 500 MW, 1001 MW–1500, 1501-2000 MW & Above 2000 MW), Application, Component & Geography - Forecast Analysis to 2014 - 2020

HVDC transmission is an emerging technology providing efficient and fast transfer of electricity at long range, reducing the losses caused by HVAC (High Voltage Altering Current). To reduce the heavy transmission loss which is incurred by the AC system and the efficient transfer at long distances are the major features of HVDC technology. Hence, HVDC transmission becomes an interesting preposition across the globe as it focuses on lower transmission losses, asynchronous interconnection and the capability to deliver bulk power for long distance transmission.

Based on the technology, the HVDC transmission market can be divided into Line communicated converters, capacitor communicated converters, and voltage source converters.

The line commutate converters occupied largest share of HVDC market in 2014 but voltage source converters are expected to grow by the year 2020.

The report provides the profiles of all the major companies in the HVDC transmission market. The report also provides the competitive landscape of the key players, which indicates the growth strategy of the market in the industry. The report also covers the entire value chain for the market, right from the infrastructure provider to the end user. Along with the value chain, this report also provides an in-depth view on the technology, configuration, power rating, application, and geographic analysis of the market. The HVDC transmission market is expected to grow at 13.54 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 17.13% from 2014 to 2020.

The report also provides the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges for the market. Apart from the market segmentation, the report also includes the critical market data and qualitative information with regard to HVDC; along with the qualitative analysis, such as the Porter’s five force analysis, value chain analysis, and the market crackdown analysis.

Key players in the HVDC transmission market include ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Siemens AG (Germany), Alstom (France), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), and Schneider Electric (France) among others

Source: MarketsandMarkets.

Prysmian inaugurates French-Spanish HVDC interconnector

A high voltage direct current (HVDC) underground cable system interconnecting France and Spain has been inaugurated.

Italian cable firm Prysmian carried out the €90m INELFE project o behalf of the Spanish grid operator, Red Electrica de España (REE), and its French counterpart Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE).

The project included a 320kV extruded HVDC underground cable and two 1000MW bipolar circuits along a 64km land route, with 8.6km in a purpose-built tunnel throughout the Pyrenees.

It connects substations in Baixas, near Perpignan in France, and Santa Llogaia, near Figueres in Spain.

Prysmian manufactured the cables at its facility in Gron, France.

Prysmian said INELFE was classified as a priority project by the European Union (EU) and was intended to increase the transmission capacity between France and Spain, to enhance diversification of sources and security of supply, as well as electricity market integration in South-West Europe. The project will increase grid system stability and support the utilization of renewable energy in Spain.

More information and source : Energy Infrastructure 

ABB has won an order worth around $130 million from DONG Energy

Source: ABB

ABB has won an order worth around $130 million from DONG Energy to supply a high-voltage cable system that will bring power from the Walney Extension wind park off the northwest coast of England to more than a million people in the United Kingdom.

The Walney Extension will provide additional generation potential of 660 MW on top of the existing offshore wind farm’s 367 MW. When completed, both offshore wind farms will be capable of providing clean electricity to over 800,000 households, making a significant contribution to the UK’s target of achieving 15 percent of its total energy production from renewable sources by 2020 and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“The Walney Extension cable link will help deliver clean renewable power to more than a million people,” said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Systems division. "This project reaffirms ABB’s commitment to delivering power and productivity for a better world and reinforces our position as a leading provider of innovative high-voltage cable technology."

Europe now has around 8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power connected to the grid. UK is the leading contributor, accounting for nearly half the installed capacity and a further 11.9 GW of offshore capacity under construction or having planning approval.

The existing Walney offshore wind farm is located 15 kilometers west of Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria in the Irish Sea, with its turbines covering an area of approximately 73 square kilometers. The Walney Extension Wind Farm site where ABB is supplying the high-voltage cable system is northwest of the existing installation and will cover an area twice as large at 149 square kilometers.

BB will design, manufacture, supply and commission the 220 kilovolt (kV) alternating current (AC) extruded cable system. The link includes more than 157 kilometers of submarine cable to connect the two wind farm platforms to each other and to shore, as well as 24 kilometers of underground cable for the grid connection.

Cable links play a key role in transmitting vast amounts of electricity reliably and efficiently, often over long distances. With experience dating back to 1883, ABB is a global leader in high-voltage cable systems with an installed base across applications such as integration of renewables, city center infeeds, oil and gas platform power supplies and subsea interconnections. ABB has commissioned more than 25 direct-current (DC) and hundreds of AC cable links around the world.

ABB wins $155 million order from Statoil

Source: ABB

 ABB the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth $155 million from Norway’s Statoil to supply systems and equipment to two HVDC converter stations linking the recently discovered Johan Sverdrup offshore field with the onshore grid. The contract has been booked in the first quarter of 2015.

Oil production at Johan Sverdrup, located west of Stavanger on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS), is expected to start in late 2019. Full production is estimated at 550,000-650,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which would constitute 40% of total oil production on the NCS. The four platforms that make up the first phase of the development will be entirely powered from shore by the HVDC link supplied by ABB. The first phase of power-from-shore investments will prepare for the future development of the Johan Sverdrup field, as well as other fields located at Utsira High until 2022.

“We are very pleased to be continuing our successful relationship with Statoil by delivering a third HVDC power-from-shore link,” said the president of ABB’s Process Automation division, Peter Terwiesch. “Using onshore electricity to run these oil platforms will eliminate the need for local gas-turbine power generation, significantly lowering CO2 emissions as well as operating and maintenance costs. This order underlines ABB’s broad offering across the entire oil and gas value chain and reflects our focus on accelerating organic growth by increasing our customer focus.”

ABB will design, engineer, supply and commission the equipment for two ±80 kilovolt 100 MW high-voltage converter stations. One will be located onshore at Haugsneset, where it will turn alternating current (AC) from the grid into high-voltage direct current (DC), which can be transmitted efficiently over 200 km to the second station which is on one of the oil platforms. There, the DC current will be converted back into AC and distributed to the rest of the field.

ABB’s solution will utilize Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC) technology, called “HVDC Light,” to provide flexible, long-distance transmission of electricity. This technology has enabled ABB to win all four HVDC power-from-shore systems that have so far been ordered in the North Sea: Statoil’s Troll A, compressor 1 and 2, delivered in 2005; BP’s Valhall field, delivered in 2011; Troll A 3 and 4, currently under delivery; and now Johan Sverdrup.

ABB pioneered HVDC transmission 60 years ago and has been awarded about 100 such projects. This adds up to a total installed capacity of more than 120 GW, or about half the global installed base of HVDC. In the 1990s, ABB further developed the technology by using voltage-sourced converters, a breakthrough which later became HVDC Light.

VSC-HVDC links are increasingly being deployed to connect remote renewables to consumption centers, and to enable cross-border connections, power-from-shore links and city-center in-feeds, where space is a constraint.  

Poseidon undersea HVDC transmission project receives approvals

LCG, March 17, 2015-The proposed 500-MW Poseidon undersea transmission line between South Brunswick, New Jersey and Huntington, New York has received interconnection approvals from the PJM Interconnection and the New York Independent System Operator. Achieving these milestones are important steps for the project, which is planned to begin operations in 2020.

The project developer, Poseidon Transmission, estimates the high voltage direct current (HVDC) project will produce $573 million in direct wholesale energy cost savings and yield $2.5 billion in cost savings for Long Island ratepayers during its first ten years in service.

The 82-mile transmission line will be completely buried along existing rights of way or underwater and will deliver energy to Long Island, New York (NYISO Zone K) from the PJM market.

According to a spokesperson for the project, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) will now begin its formal project review.

Poseidon Transmission is a subsidiary of Anbaric, a project development company. Anbaric completed the 660-MW Neptune undersea and underground project in 2007. The Neptune Project extends 65 miles between Sayreville, New Jersey and New Cassel, New York on Long Island. 

Source : Energy online

Alstom: 800 kV HVDC convertor transformer factory in Vadodara

The setting up of a 800 KV HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) convertor transformer plant in the city will come to the rescue of many power-starved states which can now borrow electricity from the surplus in Gujarat, said Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

She was speaking after inaugurating country's first Made In India advanced Ultra Transformer plant of Alstom T&D India on the outskirts of the city late last evening.

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ABB wins $900MM order to connect Norwegian, German power grids

ABB has won orders worth around $900 million from a consortium comprising leading utilities Statnett and TenneT as well as promotional bank KfW to supply on-shore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations and the cable system in the German sector that will facilitate the first ever interconnection between the Norwegian and German power grids. The link will be 623 kilometers (km) long, making it the longest HVDC connection in Europe. It is scheduled to go into commercial operation in 2020. The contract also includes a five-year service agreement.

“We are very pleased to be working with TenneT and Statnett on another landmark project that will support the integration of the European energy market. The smart combination of renewable power generation, e.g. solar and wind in Germany and hydro-electric in Norway, demonstrates that we can technologically enable a sustainable green energy policy across Europe,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “This order underlines ABB’s technology leadership in HVDC and is another milestone in restoring our Power Systems division to a path of long-term growth and profitability.”

NordLink will be key in connecting Norway with Germany and has been designated as one of the European Commission’s projects of common interest to help create an integrated European Union energy market. It will increase energy security in both countries and support the integration of renewable energy into the countries’ grids by allowing surplus wind and solar power produced in Germany to be transmitted to Norway, and hydroelectric power to be transmitted in the opposite direction. The link will transmit power at a record capacity of 1,400 MW, which is enough to supply 3.6 million German households.

"The NordLink project once again demonstrates ABB’s commitment to the efficient use of renewables; we are bringing clean power to millions of people and supporting the energy policies of Germany and Norway,” said Claudio Facchin, President, ABB Power Systems division. “We pioneered HVDC technology and continue to develop new technologies that make projects like NordLink feasible.”

ABB will design, engineer, supply and commission two 525 kilovolt (kV), 1,400 MW converter stations, using its Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) technology, called HVDC Light®. One station will be situated near Tonstad in southern Norway and the other near Wilster in northern Germany.

As part of the project, ABB will also design, manufacture and install a 525 kV mass impregnated (MI) cable system in the German sector, which will include 154 km of subsea and 54 km of underground cable.

ABB has been awarded about 100 HVDC projects since it pioneered the technology 60 years ago. That represents a total installed capacity of more than 120,000 MW and accounts for about half the global installed base. ABB further developed the technology in the 1990s by introducing VSC-HVDC, named HVDC Light®. ABB leads the way in VSC technology and, with the recently commissioned Skagerrak 4 link, has delivered 15 out of 18 such projects that are in commercial operation around the world. ABB has more than a century of power cable expertise and has been awarded orders for over 8,300 km of HVDC cables. ABB is the only supplier that can deliver both MI and extruded at 525 kV voltage level.