ABB has received a $300m contract from undisclosed customer to supply advanced converter transformers for two long-distance ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission links in China.
Under the contract, ABB will supply the advanced transformers technology featuring ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) wires to enable the transmission links to transmit up to 10,000MW of electricity at the 800kV voltage level.
The two transmission links include the 1,609km Ximeng-Taizhou and the 1,231km Shanghaimiao-Shandong. They are capable of delivering 25% more power compared with recent 800kV UHVDC links, ABB said.
The two links are being developed as part of a project to transmit power out of Inner Mongolia, since the country’s major load centers are located in eastern regions, while energy resources are located in the west and northwest.
ABB Power Grids division president Claudio Facchin said: "This latest breakthrough of transmitting 10GW of power over a single 800kV UVDC link underlines ABB’s Next Level strategy of delivering innovative solutions for the integration of renewables and efficient bulk power transmission to urban centers.
"Our ultra-high-voltage technologies are enabling countries like China to transmit ever increasing amounts of power over greater distances, with minimal losses and uncompromising reliability."
The country is considering to increase its UHV transmission capacity to allow power transmission from newer, more-efficient thermal power generation plants near energy reserves in a bid to meet the rising power demand.
Image: A ultra-high-voltage direct current transformer. Photo: courtesy of ABB AB.