ABB wins $140 million order to boost integration of renewables in Europe
ABB has received an order worth around $140 million from transmission system operators Energinet.dk in Denmark and 50Hertz Transmission in Germany to design, supply and install an HVDC (high voltage direct current) converter station in Bentwisch, Northern Germany. The HVDC Light “back-to-back” converter station, the first of its kind in Europe, will allow the connection of the asynchronous AC power grids of Eastern Denmark and Germany.
By providing the HVDC system, ABB is a key technology contributor to the “Kriegers Flak combined grid solution” project, which establishes the world’s first offshore interconnection by using the national grid connections to the future Danish Kriegers Flak and operating German Baltic 1 and 2 offshore wind farms. ABB was also previously awarded a $100 million AC subsea cable system order for connecting the Danish Kriegers Flak wind farm in 2015.
The interconnector will have a capacity of 400 megawatts (MW), equivalent to the energy requirement of more than 400,000 households. This critical infrastructure development is co-financed by the European Union and will mark a significant step towards European renewable energy targets. In addition to allowing the integration of more renewable energy into the grid, the interconnector project will provide enhanced power security and offer additional opportunities for energy trading.
“ABB has an unparalleled track record of HVDC interconnections and is playing a key role in enabling the vision of a European grid,” said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Grids division. “The integration of renewable energy and the development of interconnections are key elements of ABB’s Next Level Strategy, addressing the growing need for electricity with minimum environmental impact.”
ABB will provide the complete HVDC station including transformers, converter valves, cooling systems, control and protection and other related equipment at the converter station. HVDC Light provides sophisticated features to the network such as the “black-start” power restoration capability and exceptional power control, to regulate the system with changes in the wind speed.
