In May the Powerformer high voltage generator at the Porsi hydropower plant in Sweden began delivering energy directly to the grid at a rated voltage of 155 kV – and set a new world record. In fact it was the second record set by the generator, which achieved 202 kV during overexcitation testing. The generator needs no step up trnasformer or medium voltage switchgear and is connected directly to the 155 kV switching.
Porsi is owned by Vattenfall and is situated on the Lule river in northern Sweden. It is the third high voltage generator based on Powerformer technology to be installed, the first being at Porjus, also in Sweden, in 1998.