HVDC – High Voltage Direct Current Power Transmission from Siemens Unrivaled practical experience Answers for energy. HVDC – High Voltage Direct Current Power Transmission often is the best Strategy 18 15 30 06 24 23 28 27 16 4 21 03 11 26 07 25 13 22 20 02 08 09 17 01 05 10 14 19 31 29 12 2 In-service date Page 01 2011 Xiangjiaba–Shanghai China 5 02 2011 Mundra–Haryana India 6 03 2011 COMETA Spain 7 04 2010 Trans Bay Cable Project USA 8 05 2010 Yunnan–Guangdong China 9 06 2010 BritNed UK–Netherlands 10 07 2010 Storebælt Denmark 11 08 2009 Ballia–Bhiwadi India 12 09 2007 East-South Interconnector II Upgrade India 13 10 2007 Guizhou–Guangdong II China 14 11 2007 Neptune USA 15 12 2006 Basslink Australia 16 13 2005 Lamar USA 17 14 2004 Guizhou–Guangdong China 18 15 2004 Nelson River Bipole 1 Canada 19 16 2004 Celilo USA 20 17 2003 East-South Interconnector II India 21 18 2001 Moyle Northern Ireland/ Scotland 22 19 2001 Thailand/Malaysia Thailand-Malaysia 23 20 2000 Tianshengqiao– Guangzhou China 24 21 1995 Sylmar East USA 25 22 1995 Welsh USA 26 23 1993 Wien-Südost Austria 27 24 1993 Etzenricht Germany 28 25 1989 Gezhouba–Nan Qiao China 29 26 1987 Virginia Smith USA 30 27 1984 Poste Châteauguay Canada 31 28 1983 Dürnrohr Austria 32 29 1981 Acaray Paraguay 33 30 1977 Nelson River, Bipole 2 Canada 34 31 1975 1998 Cahora Bassa South Africa/ Mozambique 35 3 Direct current – direct success! AC technology has proved very effective in the field of generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy. Nevertheless, there are tasks which cannot be performed economically or with technical perfection by this method. For instance: ■ Economical power transmission over very long distances, power transmission via cables ■ Power transmission between networks operating asynchronously or at different frequencies ■ Input of additional power without increasing the short circuit ratio of the network concerned. For all these tasks High Voltage Direct Current Power Transmission is not only a realistic technical and economical alternative to AC technology, but also the only possible transmission method. The plants listed in the following pages show the power ratings and technical standards of our HVDC equipment installed throughout the world. 4 6-inch thyristor 4" Shanxi Qinghai 5" 6" Shandong Ganzu Shaanxi ng Hubei g Wuhan Gezhouba Anhui ng ia ej Zh Guizhou Hunan Jiangxi Guangxi Zhuang A. R. Taipei Guangdong Shenzen Taiwan China Laos East China Sea Fujian Yunnan Kunming Shanghai on gd Jia Jiangsu Ch Xiangjiaba a Ch ng on Sichuan Henan Hong Kong Hanoi South China Sea Xiangjiaba–Shanghai, China In March 2008 XD Xi’an Power Rectifier Works awarded the contract to Siemens for Ultra High Voltage Direct Current converter (UHVDC) valves for the sending station at Xiangjiaba. The power transmission system will transport electrical energy with low loss from Xiangjiaba, Fulong Station, Sichuan Province to Shanghai, through a DC line length of 2070 km. The transmission line helps to meet the rising energy consumption in Shanghai. The bipolar DC system is rated for a continuous power of 6400 MW at ± 800 kV which makes it the largest rated HVDC system worldwide. The pole voltage is achieved by connecting two 400 kV twelve-pulse bridges in series. This project includes the world’s first application of six inch size electrical-triggered thyristors for an HVDC transmission for DC currents of 4 kA and above. In addition to the converter valves Siemens supplies converter transformers for the sending station of this project. Pole 1 of the ± 800 kV DC Transmission scheme is planned to be put in operation in 2010 whereas pole 2 is supposed to follow in 2011. Customer XD Xi’an Power Rectifier Works (XPR) Project name Xiangjiaba Location Xiangjiaba–Shanghai Power rating 6400 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 2070 km Voltage levels ± 800 kV DC, 525 kV AC Type of thyristor Electric-triggered thyristor, 8 kV (6 inches) 5 Mundra–Haryana, India In April 2009 Adani Power Ltd. awarded the contract to Siemens for a 2500 MW HVDC converter system. This is the first HVDC contract being awarded by a private sector company in India. The power transmission system will transport electrical energy with low loss from Mundra in Gujarat, Western India to Mohindergarh in Haryana, Northern India, through a DC line length of 960 km. This link supports the Adani Group’s Green Initiative to transmit power with minimized loss of energy thanks to most modern technology. The bipolar DC system is rated for a continuous power of 2500 MW (± 500 kV, 2500 A) at the DC terminals of the rectifier/converter station. The HVDC scheme can be operated in bipolar and monopolar mode with ground return or metallic return. Pole 1 of the ± 500 kV DC Transmission scheme is planned to be put in operation at the beginning of February 2011, whereas pole 2 is supposed to follow in July 2011. That will be the shortest delivery time for a long-distance transmission system world wide. The new long-distance HVDC transmission link will be the third system that Siemens has built in India in succession. Customer Adani Power Ltd. Project name Mundra–Haryana Location Gujarat province to Haryana province Power rating 2500 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 960 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC, 400 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV China Lahore Haryana Pakistan du s Delhi Nepal In Bhiwadi Karachi Ballia Ganges Mundra India Bombay 6 Bangladesh Calcutta France Barcelona Madrid Palma de Mallorca Valencia Spain Ibiza Mallorca Mediterranean Sea COMETA, Spain Red Eléctrica de España signed the contract with Siemens in October 2007 for design, delivery, and construction of 2 x 200 MW HVDC bipole converter stations. Commercial operation is scheduled for July 2011. The COMETA HVDC project, under the responsibility of Red Eléctrica de España, connects the Spanish peninsula with the Ballearic island of Mallorca in order to meet the increasing demand of electric power on the island. The transmission system is designed as a bipolar interconnector with metallic return conductor. One converter station is located near the city of Valencia on the Spanish peninsula, where an existing power plant will be connected to the HVDC via a HIS Switchgear and HVAC cables (also supplied by Siemens). The other converter station on Mallorca is located at Santa Ponsa near the capital city, Palma de Mallorca. The COMETA submarine link crosses the Mediterranean Sea in a maximum depth of 1,500 meters, has a length of approximately 250 km and will consist of three sea cables, one HV cable per pole and one cable as metallic return conductor. Customer Red Eléctrica de España Project name COMETA Location Spain–Mallorca Power rating 2 x 200 MW, bipolar Type of plant Submarine cable transmission, 250 km Voltage levels 250 kV DC, 50 Hz, 400 kV/230 kV AC Type of thyristor Direct light-triggered (LTT), 8 kV 7 Trans Bay Cable Project, USA Trans Bay Cable, LLC, awarded Siemens a contract to construct a submarine High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission link between San Francisco’s city center and a Pacific Gas & Electric substation near Pittsburg, California. The Trans Bay Cable Project will transmit 400 MW active power and ± 170 Mvar reactive power (statcom function) and is the first order for the innovative HVDC PLUS technology by Siemens. This project is a milestone of the HVDC PLUS technology in terms of providing densely populated areas with new transmission capacity. Siemens HVDC PLUS System is based on a multilevel Voltage Sourced Converter Technology. Its innovative design offers technical and economical advantages. HVDC PLUS enhances the performance of the transmission grid, improves reliability, and reduces maintenance costs. HVDC PLUS is the preferred solution in space-constrained environments, as you will find them in San Francisco. Customer Trans Bay Cable, LLC Project name Trans Bay Cable Project Location Pittsburg, California, and San Francisco, California Power rating 400 MW Type of plant 85 km HVDC PLUS submarine cable Voltage levels ± 200 kV DC, 230 kV /138 kV, 60 Hz Type of semiconductors IGBT The heart of the HVDC PLUS converter stations is the multilevel converter where the conversion from AC to DC transmission, and vice versa, takes place. In comparison with line-commutated converters based on thyristor technology, the HVDC PLUS system operates with powered semiconductors with turn-on and turn-off capability (IGBT). After commissioning in 2010, the Trans Bay Cable Project is anticipated to meet the California Independent System Operator’s (ISO) planning and reliability standards. United States of America Santa Rosa Pittsburg San Francisco Oakland Potrero Pacific Ocean San Jose 8 Hubei ng ia ej China Guizhou Hunan Jiangxi Guangxi Laos East China Sea Fujian Yunnan Kunming Shanghai on gd on g Anhui Ch an Ji g an Zh Ch Wuhan Gezhouba g Sichuan Zhuang A. R. Taipei Guangdong Shenzen Taiwan Hong Kong Hanoi South China Sea Vietnam Yunnan–Guangdong, China The long-distance transmission system of the Yunnan– Guangdong DC Transmission Project transmits 5,000 MW from the Chuxiong substation in Yunnan to the load center of the Pearl River delta in Guangdong. The contract was awarded in June 2007. Commercial operation of the first 800 kV pole will start in June 2009, the complete bipole will be in operation in June 2010. The system, with a transmission voltage of ±800 kV DC, sets a new dimension in the development of HVDC systems. The bipolar system uses two series valve groups per pole: one 12 pulse valve group is rated 400 kV; the other is rated 800 kV. Apart from the converter valves, the other major components with insulation levels of 800 kV are the single-phase two-winding converter transformers and air-insulated smoothing reactors. The modular converter groups are equipped with direct light-triggered thyristors with water cooling. The 800 kV equipment in the DC Yard, e.g. bushings, support insulators, switches, and arrester are of composite type with silicone rubber external insulation to offer improved operation under severe environmental conditions. DC harmonic filtering is achieved through triple-tuned filters, whereas for AC harmonic filtering double-tuned filters together with a special low-order filter are used. Customer China Southern Power Grid Project name Yunnan–Guangdong Location Chuxiong City / Yunnan– Zengcheng City / Guangdong Power rating 5,000 MW, bipolar with series valve groups Type of plant Long-distance bipole, 1418 km Voltage levels ±800 kV DC 525 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct light-triggered (LTT), 8 kV 9 BritNed, Great Britain, Netherlands In May 2007 BritNed Development Limited (owned by the TSOs National Grid International and TenneT) awarded the contract for the BritNed HVDC converter stations to a consortium of Siemens and BAM Civiel BV. The BritNed HVDC transmission system will connect the grid in the UK with the Dutch part of the UCTE grid. It is a 1,000 MW HVDC interconnection across the southern part of the North Sea, linking the 400 kV substations on the Isle of Grain, on the southern bank of the Thames Estuary, and Maasvlakte near Rotterdam. The HVDC system is designed as a bipole with fast bypass switches without metallic or ground return. The converter uses quadruple thyristor valves in a double tower configuration, single-phase three-winding converter transformers, air core smoothing reactors, indoor DC switchgear, and double branch AC filters with tripletuned branches. Commercial operation of the interconnection is about to start in 2010. Customer BritNed Development Limited Project name BritNed Location Isle of Grain on the southern bank of the Thames Estuary in the UK, and Maasvlakte west of Rotterdam in The Netherlands Power rating 1,000 MW, bipolar Type of plant Submarine cable transmission, approximately 254 km Voltage levels ± 450 kV DC, 400 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV Glasgow United Kingdom Netherlands London Maasvlakte Isle of Grain Rotterdam Belgium France 10 Germany Norway Sweden Herslev Denmark Fraugde Copenhagen Poland Netherlands Germany Storebælt, Denmark In May 2007 the Danish TSO, Energinet.dk, awarded the contract for the Storebælt HVDC converters to Siemens. The Storebælt HVDC transmission system will connect the grid in Jutland/Funen (a part of the UCTE system) with the Zealand Grid, which is a part of the NORDEL system. It is a 600 MW HVDC interconnection across the Storebælt Strait, linking the 400 kV substations Fraugde near Odense on the island of Funen and Herslev near Kalundborg on the island of Zealand. The HVDC system is designed as a monopole with metallic return. Approximately half of the 56 km DC cable route is a land cable. The converter uses quadruple thyristor valves in a single tower configuration, single-phase three-winding converter transformers, air core smoothing reactors and triple-tuned AC filters. Commercial operation of the interconnection is about to start in 2010. Customer Energinet.dk Project name Storebælt Location The islands Funen (Fyn) and Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark Power rating 600 MW, monopolar Type of plant Submarine cable transmission, 56 km Voltage levels 400 kV DC, 400 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV 11 Ballia–Bhiwadi, India In March 2007 Powergrid of India awarded the contract for the largest HVDC system in India to a consortium formed by Siemens and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL). The project will transmit power from the Ballia Power Pool in Uttar Pradesh to the Bhiwadi Substation in Rajasthan, only 80 km from Delhi. The HVDC system will improve the power supply of the fast-growing Delhi metropolitan region without the need for installation additional power plants in this highly urbanized area. The contract includes the engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning, as well as all civil works on a turnkey basis. Siemens is responsible for the design, offshore supply (including the converter transformer for Ballia station), civil works, and logistic, whereas BHEL takes care of the onshore portion as well as the converter transformers for the Bhiwadi station. To meet the increasing power demand, the project has to be completed in 33 months, the shortest delivery time for a long-distance transmission system in India. Customer Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd. Project name Ballia–Bhiwadi Location Uttar Pradesh province to Rajasthan province Power rating 2,500 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 800 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC, 400 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV China Lahore Delhi Bhiwadi Nepal In du s Pakistan Karachi Ballia Ganges India Bangladesh Calcutta Bombay 12 Karachi Ganges India Bangladesh Calcutta Talcher Bombay Hyderabad Bay of Bengal Kolar Madras Bangalore East-South Interconnector II Upgrade, India In April 2006 Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. awarded the contract to Siemens to upgrade the power transmission capacity from 2,000 MW to 2,500 MW on the existing Talcher Kolar HVDC Long Distance Transmission system. Since 2003, the 2,000 MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) System “East-South Interconnector II” links the power generation centre of Talcher in the eastern part of India with the rapidly developing industrial and high-tech area of Bangalore in the south over a line length of nearly 1,400 km. The conventional method to increase the power of a transmission system is to increase the transmission voltage or to increase the current flow through the DC-line. Both measures require extensive and cost-intensive modifications of the system. Siemens experts have developed an innovative solution not usually used for HVDC systems. With the aid of software systems known as Relative Aging Indication (RAI) and Load Factor Limitation (LFL), a first-time-introduced forced air cooling system for the DC smoothing reactors and other additional measures, it is possible to utilize the overload capacity of the system more effectively without installing additional thyristors connected in series or in parallel to increase the DC transmission voltage or the DC current respectively. Customer Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd. Project name Upgrade of Talcher Kolar HVDC Project from 2,000 MV to 2,500 MV Location Orissa province to Karnataka province Power rating 2,500 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 1,450 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC, 400 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 8 kV (100 mm) 13 Guizhou–Guangdong II, China The DC Transmission Project (the long-distance transmission system of the Guizhou-Guangdong II line ± 500 kV) transmits 3,000 MW power from the Xingren substation in the Guizhou Province of Southwest China to the load center of Shenzhen in the Guangdong Province. The system has a long-term overload capability of up to 115 %. Power transmission in the reverse direction is also possible. The project is carried out in cooperation with Chinese partners supported by Siemens. The bipolar system is designed for a ceiling suspended 12-pulse converter bridge arrangement with single-phase two-winding converter transformers and oil-insulated smoothing reactors. The 500 kV DC converter groups of modular design are equipped with direct light-triggered thyristors with water cooling. Most of the DC equipment is provided with composite housings improving the performance of operation under severe environmental conditions. For harmonic filtering triple tuned AC and DC filters are used. The design considers the installation at 1450 m above sea level (Xingren converter station). The interconnection of the neutrals of both stations is implemented by means of ground electrodes. The contract was awarded in May 2005. Execution time of the first pole is 25 months and that of the bipole is 31 months. Customer China Southern Power Grid Project name Guizhou-Guangdong II Line ± 500 kV DC Transmission Project Location Xingren / Guizhou– Shenzhen / Guangdong Power rating 3,000 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance bipole, 1,225 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC, 525 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV Hubei on ng gd Shanghai ej ia on g Ch an Jia ng China Guizhou Hunan Zh Ch Wuhan Anhui g Sichuan Jiangxi East China Sea Fujian Yunnan Guangxi Zhuang A. R. Laos Guangzhou Hong Kong Hanoi Vietnam 14 Guangdong South China Sea Taipei Taiwan Duffy Avenue, Long Island, New York Atlantic Ocean Sayreville, New Jersey Neptune RTS, USA The Neptune HVDC project connects the TSO Long Island Power Authority to the competitive PJM market and provides power to a fast-growing load center on Long Island. The system is a monopolar cable transmission link with a DC voltage of 500 kV and a continuous power transmission rating of 660 MW. The cable stretches from First Energy Inc.’s substation in Sayreville, N.J., to Uniondale, N.Y.-based LIPA’s Newbridge Road substation in Levittown. Siemens, as the leader of the consortium for this turnkey project, was responsible for the installation of two converter stations. Furthermore, Siemens is to operate the link for a five-year period. The consortium partner Prysmian (formerly Pirelli) delivered and installed the cable package including a 82 km DC submarine cable section from New Jersey to the landfall at Jones Beach followed by a 23 km DC land cable section to the Converter Station as well as the AC cable connections from the two converter stations to the grid. The project was developed by Neptune RTS over a period of several years. The EPC contract was awarded on July 15th, 2005. Execution time of the project was 24 months. Customer Neptune RTS Project name Neptune RTS Location USA / New Jersey–New York Power rating 660 MW, monopolar Type of plant Submarine cable transmission, 105 km Voltage levels 500 kV, 230 /345 kV, 60 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV 15 Basslink, Australia The Basslink cable link, which went into operation in 2006, represents the first interconnection between the states of Tasmania and Victoria. Both states benefit from this link, which operates in both directions. Tasmania relies entirely on hydroelectric plants to generate electricity; Basslink allows the import of base load from Victorian coal-fired power plants, thus improving supply reliability in periods of drought. On the other side, Victoria is able to improve its peak load supply with green energy from Tasmania. Tasmania’s first-ever access to the National Energy Market (NEM) has also increased competition within Australia. The transmission system is designed as a monopolar interconnector with metallic return. As consortium leader, Siemens augmented two existing AC substations and provided 5 km of AC overhead line, the HVDC converter stations, and 66 km of DC overhead line. Basslink now represents one of the longest submarine power links in the world, with a submarine cable length of approximately 295 km that crosses the Bass Strait. The EPC contract was awarded in the year 2000, and authorities approved the project in the second half of 2002 after extensive environmental impact studies. Customer National Grid Australia Project name Basslink Interconnector Location Loy Yang / Victoria to George Town / Tasmania Power rating 500 MW continuous, up to 626 MW overload for 8 hours / day Type of plant Submarine cable transmission, 295 km Voltage levels 400 kV DC, 500 kV 50 Hz (Victoria) 220 kV 50 Hz (Tasmania) Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV Brisbane Australia Sydney Canberra Adelaide Melbourne Loy Yang Tasman Sea George Town Hobart 16 Denver St. Louis Co lor ad o Chicago United States of America Santa Fe Ar ka Phoenix ns as Dallas New Orleans Mexico R Houston io Gr an de Gulf of Mexico Monterrey Lamar, USA In February 2003 Xcel Energy awarded the contract to Siemens for the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the Back-to-Back DC Converter station located in Lamar, Colorado. The tie connects Xcel Energy’s Southwestern Public Service Company system in the East (345 kV AC) with its Public Service Company of Colorado system in the West (230 kV AC), and has a bidirectional power transfer capability of 210 MW (nominal). As one of its main features, the converter station provides continuously adjustable voltage control on the weak AC System. The Eastern part and the Western part of the United States is not electrically synchronized. The dividing line is roughly down the eastern borders of Montana, Wyoming Colorado, and New Mexico. The Lamar project has been commercial operation since January 2005. The Back-to-Back DC converter station is highly cost-efficient due to a new grounding concept of the DC circuit. This concept allows the use of standard distribution transformers instead of special HVDC converter transformers. Standardized components result in shorter delivery time, and allow for high local manufacturing content. Customer Xcel Energy Project name Lamar Location Lamar / Colorado / USA Power rating 210 MW, continuous Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 63.6 kV DC 230 kV AC, 60 Hz (West Lamar/Colorado) 345 kV AC, 60 Hz (Easy Finney/Kansas) Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV 17 Guizhou–Guangdong, China The HVDC long-distance transmission system of Gui-Guang transmits 3,000 MW of power from the Anshun substation in Guizhou Province in southwest China to the Zhaoqing converter station in Guangdong Province near the load center of Guangzhou. It is a bipolar system, each pole comprising a 12-pulse converter bridge suspended from the ceiling. The thyristors are water-cooled and direct-light-triggered. The converter transformers are of the single-phase two-winding type. Triple-tuned filters are used for filtering harmonics on the DC- and AC-side of the converters. The smoothing reactors are of the oilimmersed type. The contract was awarded in October 2001. Commercial operation started in October 2004 (six months ahead of scheduled time). Customer State Power South Company (SPSC) Project name Gui-Guang Location Guizhou–Guangdong Power rating 3,000 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 980 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC 525 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV Hubei on ng gd Shanghai ia on ej g Anhui Ch an Jia ng Zh Ch Wuhan g Sichuan China Guizhou Hunan Jiangxi East China Sea Fujian Yunnan Guangxi Zhuang A. R. Laos Guangzhou Hong Kong Hanoi Vietnam 18 Guangdong South China Sea Taipei Taiwan Hudson Bay Canada Nel Gillam son Calgary Winnipeg United States of America Minneapolis Nelson River Bipole 1, Canada In 2002 Siemens received the contract to replace 36 mercury arc valves (MRVs) with thyristor valves. Bipole 1 of the Nelson river scheme had been in operation since 1970. Both poles were equipped with mercury arc valves designed for service life of 20 years. The old valves of Bipole 1, Pole 1 were replaced by thyristor valves 10 years ago. By using the best valves as spare parts for Pole 2, operation for 10 more years was possible. In 2001 Manitoba Hydro decided to also replace the MRVs of Pole 2 with thyristor valves to increase the reliability of the whole scheme. To minimize the outage time of this highly utilized scheme, replacement was performed in 3 lots. For each lot 12 thyristor valves and 2 cooling units as well as new surge arresters are supplied. The overall completion time for the replacement was 27 months with a delivery time for the first lot of 13 months. Siemens delivered light-triggered thyristors, the same type as supplied for the Moyle Interconnector and the Celilo project. For future upgrading of the system the thyristor valves are rated for 500 kV with 2,000 A nominal current. To meet the customer‘s demand for a short outage time the thyristor valves are designed to fit on to the existing support structure and therefore no time-consuming changes involving civil works are necessary. Customer Manitoba Hydro (Winnipeg) Project name Bipole 1, Pole 2 Valve Replacement Location Radisson Converter Station on Nelson River Dorsey Converter Station near Winnipeg, both in Manitoba, Canada Power rating 900 MW (1,000 MW future) Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 900 km Voltage levels 450 kV DC (500 kV future) 230 /138 kV, 60 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV 19 Celilo, Mercury Arc Valve Replacement, USA In December 2000, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in Portland, Oregon, USA had to decide how to proceed with the Celilo Converter Station which was 30 years old meanwhile, and considering that the Pacific Intertie is a major contributor to satisfying California’s electrical energy needs. The critical components were the mercury arc valves: they had been designed for a service life of 20 years; they require high maintenance efforts, are very unreliable, and the manufacturer had stopped supplying spare parts long ago. Based on the decision, BPA awarded Siemens a contract for the supply of 36 HVDC thyristor valves with direct-light-triggered thyristors for the Celilo Converter Station of the Pacific Intertie, to replace the mercury arc valves – representing a converter rating of 1,600 MW. The delivery in three phases was completed within 20 months. In addition, all cooling towers in the 3,100 MW converter station were replaced by dry-type cooling towers. In 1997 Siemens provided BPA with a thyristor valve including the newly developed technology of direct-light-triggered thyristors for commercial demonstration during a period of two years. It was replacing a mercury arc valve. Due to the excellent performance, BPA purchased the valve already after 11 months of operation. It has been in service ever since without any fault or failure. Customer Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Project name Celilo Mercury Arc Replacement Project Location The Dalles, Oregon, USA Power rating 3,100 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission Voltage levels ± 400 kV DC 230 kV, 60 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV Canada Calgary Vancouver Colu The Dalles mbia Portland 20 Co San Francisco lor ado United States of America Karachi Ganges India Bangladesh Calcutta Talcher Bombay Hyderabad Bay of Bengal Kolar Madras Bangalore East-South Interconnector II, India In March 2000 Siemens received an order for a longdistance HVDC transmission project from the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited. From now on power is transmitted from the eastern region (Orissa province) to the southern part (Karnataka province) of the subcontinent by means of a bipolar HVDC system, thus integrating these two regional asynchronous networks into the national grid, ensuring a reliable and flexible power transfer nationwide. This is the sixth HVDC project in India, the largest so far regarding rated transmission power and transmission distance. Commercial operation started in 2003. Customer Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. Project name East-South Interconnector II Location Orissa province to Karnataka province Power rating 2,000 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 1,450 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC 400 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 8 kV (100 mm ∅) 21 Moyle, Northern Ireland/Scotland The Moyle Interconnector Project provides a vital link in electricity supply, enhancing both security and competition in the emerging market of Northern Ireland. The configuration of the transmission system is two monopolar submarine HVDC links operating in parallel on the AC systems. Each pole is rated 250 MW in both directions at 250 kV DC. For the first time in a commercial HVDC system, the converter stations are equipped with the latest achievement in highvoltage semiconductor technology: direct-lighttriggered thyristors with integrated overvoltage protection. By introducing this new technology, the number of electrical parts in the HVDC thyristor valve is considerably reduced, resulting in better reliability and longer maintenance intervals. The contract for the Moyle Interconnector turnkey supply of the converter stations was awarded in September 1999. Taking-over certificate by the customer was issued in November 2001. Customer Moyle Interconnector Ltd. (MIL) Northern Ireland Project name Moyle Interconnector Location Northern Ireland, Scotland Power rating 2 x 250 MW Type of plant Submarine cable transmission, 64 km Voltage levels 2 x 250 kV, DC 275 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Direct-light-triggered, 8 kV Glasgow Belfast Dublin United Kingdom London Ireland 22 Thailand Khlong Ngae Vietna Bangkok m Thailand Cambodia odia od da Gurun Ho Chi Minh Malaysia Brunei Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Singapore Indonesia Thailand/Malaysia This HVDC long-distance transmission system interconnecting the 230 kV AC network of Thailand with the 275 kV AC network of Malaysia is implemented in the first stage as a 300 MW monopolar metallic return scheme. As a turnkey project, complete HVDC system design and network integration, delivery of the converter stations, AC switchgear, and the interconnecting 300 kV DC overhead line was included in Siemens’ scope of supply. Commercial operation started in 2001. Customer Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Project name Thailand-Malaysia Location Khlong Ngae–Gurun Power rating 300 MW, monopolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 110 km Voltage levels 300 kV DC EGAT: 230 kV,50 Hz TNB: 275 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 8 kV (100 mm ∅) 23 Tianshengqiao–Guangzhou, China The HVDC long-distance transmission system TianGuang carries 1,800 MW of electrical power from the hydropower plant Tianshengqiao in southwest China to the load center of Guangzhou in the south. It is a bipolar system, each pole comprising a 12-pulse converter valve group, with the valve towers hanging from a special ceiling construction. The thyristors are water-cooled. The transformers are of the single phase three-winding type with bushings protruding into the valve hall. Active DC filters are implemented in this system for absorption of DC harmonics to avoid interference on neighboring communication lines. The contract was awarded in 1997; commercial operation started in 2000. Customer State Power South Company (SPSC) Project name Tian-Guang Location Tianshengqiao–Guangzhou Power rating 1,800 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 960 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC 230 kV, 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 8 kV Hubei on ng gd Shanghai ia on ej g Anhui Ch an Jia ng China Guizhou Zh Ch Wuhan g Sichuan Hunan Jiangxi East China Sea Fujian Yunnan Tianshengqiao Guangdong Guangxi Guangzhou Zhuang A. R. Laos Hong Kong Hanoi Vietnam 24 South China Sea Taipei Taiwan Los Angeles San Diego lor Co San Francisco ado United States of America Phoenix Mexico Sylmar East Valve Reconstruction, USA The Pacific HVDC Intertie started its operation in 1970 at 1,440 MW. By addition of series and parallel connected converters it was later expanded to a rating of 3,100 MW. When a disastrous fire had destroyed the thyristor valves of converter 1 at Sylmar East Converter Station in 1993, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was under pressure to restore reliable power supply to the energy-hungry region. Siemens was awarded the reconstruction in August 1994, due to the short delivery time, use of fire-retardant valve material (UL94 VO), the anticorrosion cooling system concept, and the excellent seismic performance of the valves (0.5 g horizontal). The installation was finished in September 1995. The scope of supply comprises one complete 12-pulse converter, including DC hall equipment, and an advanced monitoring and alarm system. Customer Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, California, USA (LADWP) Project name Sylmar East Valve Reconstruction Location Sylmar Converter Station East, Los Angeles Power rating 550 (825) MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, approx. 1,200 km Voltage levels 500 kV DC 230 kV, 60 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 8 kV 25 Welsh, USA The back-to-back tie links the two different networks of the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT grid) with the Southwest Power Pool (SPP grid) of the eastern US system. The Welsh Converter Station allows an additional power transfer to the existing connection (at Oklaunion) between the two networks. The arrangement and the design of the station are comparable to Etzenricht. The reliable and proven converter technology of Etzenricht, along with the same control and protection systems, is therefore used. Customer American Electric Power, Ohio, USA (AEP) Project name Welsh HVDC Converter Station Location Texas, Titus County near Mount Pleasant Power rating 600 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 170 kV DC 345 / 345 kV, 60 / 60 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 5.5 kV Denver St. Louis Co lor ad o Chicago United States of America Ar Santa Fe ka Phoenix ns as Dallas New Orleans Mexico Rio Gr Houston an de Monterrey 26 Gulf of Mexico Poland Czech Rep. Germany Slovak Rep. France Vienna Austria Switzerland Slovenia Italy Hungary Croatia Wien-Suedost, Austria The back-to-back tie links the Austrian UCPTE network with the Hungarian and, hence, the RGW network. The modular water-cooled air-insulated valves are of a new, compact, and universal design. The rectifier and inverter are in 12-pulse connection and are accommodated in a building along with the bushings of the converter-transformers and the smoothing reactors. This HVDC plant southeast of Vienna was put in operation in July 1993. Customer Österreichische Elektrizitätswirtschafts Aktiengesellschaft (Verbundgesellschaft, VG) Project name GK-Wien-Südost (GK-SO) Location Southeast of Vienna, Austria Power rating 600 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 145 kV DC 380 / 380 kV, 50 / 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 5.5 kV 27 Etzenricht, Germany The back-to-back tie links the two different networks of the Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany, that is, the Western European network UCPTE with the Eastern European network RGW. The HVDC plant considerably improved the availability of electrical energy in both countries and, at the same time, reduced the need for investment in reserve generating capacity. Standardized modular converters allow for much smaller valve halls than previously permitted and therefore offer major advantages in terms of economy. The converter transformers are arranged outside the valve hall. Their insulating bushings for connection to the thyristors are led directly into the converter hall. The HVDC plant in Etzenricht near Weiden/Oberpfalz was commissioned in June 1993. Customer E.ON AG Munich, Germany Project name Etzenricht Location Etzenricht, near Weiden / Oberpfalz Power rating 600 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 160 kV DC 380 / 380 kV, 50 / 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 5.5 kV Poland Netherlands Berlin Germany Belgium Etzenricht Luxembourg France Czech Rep. Vienna Austria 28 Shanxi Jiangsu Shaanxi China on Shanghai ng gd Gezhouba ia on ej g Wuhan Ch an Ji g an Nan Qiao Anhui Hubei Zh Ch Henan g Sichuan Shandong Guizhou Hunan Jiangxi East China Sea Fujian Yunnan Guangdong Guangxi Guangzhou Zhuang A. R. Laos Taipei Taiwan Hong Kong Hanoi South China Sea Gezhouba–Nan Qiao, China The Gezhouba-Nan Qiao HVDC plant transmits electric power from the hydroelectric plant in Gezhouba in the Hubei province, central China, to the Shanghai conurbation. The power transmission system is bipolar, each pole consisting of a 12-pulse converter valve group. The valve towers are suspended from a special structure on the ceiling of the valve hall. The singlephase three-winding converter-transformers and their bushings project into the hall, where the star delta connections are made. The thyristors are water-cooled. Commercial operation started in 1989 (Pole 1), and in 1990 (Pole 2). Customer China National Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC) Project name Ge-Nan Location Rectifier station in Gezhouba (Central China), Inverter station in Nan Qiao (about 40 km from Shanghai) Power rating 1,200 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, about 1,000 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC 525 / 230 kV, 50 / 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 5.5 kV 29 Virginia Smith, USA The HVDC back-to-back tie at Virginia Smith Converter Station in Nebraska, USA, links the asynchronous networks in the East of the United States with those in the West. The station is controlled via the WAPA communications system from the load control center in Loveland, Colorado, 150 miles away. 200 MW can be transmitted in either direction. Despite power input in networks with low power ratings, voltage stability is assured within narrow limits. Temporary overvoltage limiters can be switched in to keep transient overvoltages within 1.25 p.u. The HVDC plant has been in operation since December 1987. Customer Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Project name Virginia Smith Converter Station Location Sidney, Nebraska, USA Power rating 200 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 50 kV DC 230 / 230 kV, 60 / 60 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 4.52 kV Denver St. Louis Co lor ad o Chicago United States of America Ar Santa Fe ka Phoenix ns as Dallas New Orleans Mexico R Houston io Gr an de Monterrey 30 Gulf of Mexico Canada Quebec Beauharnois Ottawa Montreal Detroit Toronto Chicago United States of America Boston New York Philadelphia Washington DC Poste Châteauguay, Canada The Poste Châteauguay back-to-back tie effects the exchange of power between Canada (Hydro Quebec) and the USA (NYPA). The plant comprises two poles and has a power rating of 500 MW per pole. Overload operation up to 1,200 MW is possible. Each of the two poles is accommodated in a valve hall with two 12-pulse groups. One group is connected with the 120 kV system in the USA, and the other with the 315 kV system in Canada. The project, which was jointly awarded to BBC and Siemens, was completed on July 1, 1984, after a construction time of about one year. Customer Hydro Quebec, Montreal, Canada Project name Poste Châteauguay Location Beauharnois, Quebec, Canada Power rating 2 x 500 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 145 kV DC 120/315 kV, 60/60 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 4.5 kV 31 Dürnrohr, Austria The HVDC back-to-back tie between Austria and the Czech Republic linked the then-asynchronous networks of Western and Eastern Europe. The contract was placed in 1980. The thyristor valves are watercooled and air-insulated; for the first time, highvoltage thyristors with a wafer diameter of 100 mm were used. The system consists of two 12-pulse groups in a common building and the transformers and smoothing reactors which are installed outdoors, with DC-side bushings protruding through the walls. Siemens, partnering with the German HVDC Group, supplied all thyristor modules and the station control system. Commercial operation started in 1983. Customer Österreichische Elektrizitätswirtschafts Aktiengesellschaft (Verbundgesellschaft, VG) Project name Dürnrohr Location Dürnrohr, near Zwentendorf, Austria Power rating 550 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 145 kV DC 380 / 380 kV, 50 / 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 4.2 kV Poland Germany Czech Rep. Dürnrohr Slovak Rep. Vienna Austria Switzerland Hungary Slovenia Croatia Italy 32 La Paz Brazil Para ná Bolivia Rio de Janeiro Paraguay Chile São Paulo Argentina Pôrto Alegre Cordoba Santiago Uruguay Buenos Aires Montevideo Acaray, Paraguay The HVDC back-to-back tie in Paraguay links the Brazilian 60 Hz network with the Paraguayan 50 Hz network. In times of drought and low output from the hydropower plants, Paraguay imports power from Brazil, while power can be exported to Brazil in times of water surplus. The frequency regulation of the HVDC back-to-back tie also helps stabilize the Paraguayan network frequency to 50 Hz. Commercial operation started in 1981. Customer A.N.D.E. Project name Acaray Location Paraguay Power rating 55 MW Type of plant Back-to-back tie Voltage levels 25 kV DC 220 / 138 kV, 50 / 60 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 4.2 kV 33 Nelson River, Bipole 2, Canada The power plants on the Nelson and Churchill Rivers in the north of Manitoba, Canada, generate more than 50 % of the demand of this province: the double-bipolar HVDC link supplies the power to the load centers in the south of the province. Bipole 2 is the first HVDC system using highly efficient water cooling for the thyristor valves – a technology that has since become the industry standard. Siemens, partnering in the German HVDC Group, supplied all thyristor modules and the 500 kV smoothing reactors. Commercial operation started in 1977 with stage 1; the project was completed in 1985 with stage 3. Customer Manitoba Hydro (Winnipeg) Project name Nelson River, Bipole 2 Location Henday Converter Station near Nelson River Dorsey Converter Station near Winnipeg both in Manitoba, Canada Power rating 1,800 MW (summer) 2,000 MW (winter), bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, about 1,000 km Voltage levels ± 500 kV DC 230 / 230 kV, 60 / 60 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 3.2 kV Hudson Bay Canada Nel Gillam son Calgary Winnipeg United States of America Minneapolis 34 Zambia Madagascar Moz amb i qu e Mozambique Zimbabwe Chan Harare nel Malawi Songo Botswana Apollo Swaziland Johannesburg South Africa Lesotho Cahora Bassa, South Africa /Mozambique The Cahora Bassa HVDC system is used to transmit the power generated in a hydroelectric plant on the Sambesi river in Mozambique to South Africa. The contract for the HVDC system, the dam, and the powerhouse was awarded to the ZAMCO consortium, including the German HVDC Group (AEG, BBC, Siemens). Cahora Bassa is the first HVDC contract placed that used thyristor valves. An outdoor, oil-cooled, and oil-insulated design was used. Commercial operation started in 1975 with phase 1; the system was completed in 1979 with phase 3. During the 1980s the transmission line was heavily damaged by terrorist attack and the system was down until the nineties, when Siemens undertook the refurbishment of the converter stations. Besides the careful restoration of the main equipment, the complete DC control was exchanged by a fully digital, computerized system including a modern Human-Machine Interface (HMI). The new system increases the availability and reliability of the complex HVDC system considerably in terms of operator guidance. The most powerful HVDC transmission link in Africa has been back in operation since 1998. Customer 1. HCB, Lisbon, Portugal 2. ESCOM, Johannesburg, South Africa Project name Cahora Bassa Location Songo, Mozambique Apollo, South Africa Power rating 1,920 MW, bipolar Type of plant Long-distance transmission, 1,456 km Voltage levels ± 533 kV DC 220 / 275 kV, 50 / 50 Hz Type of thyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor, 1.65 kV/ 2.5 kV 35 Published by and copyright © 2009: Siemens AG Energy Sector Freyeslebenstrasse 1 91058 Erlangen, Germany Siemens AG Energy Sector Power Transmission Division Power Transmission Solutions Freyeslebenstrasse 1 91058 Erlangen, Germany www.siemens.com/hvdc For more information, please contact our Customer Support Center. Phone: +49 180/524 70 00 Fax: +49 180/524 24 71 (Charges depending on provider) E-mail: [email protected] Power Transmission Division Order No. E50001-G610-A110-X-4A00 Printed in Germany Dispo 30000 TH 150-090816 470725 WS 08091.0 Printed on elementary chlorine-free bleached paper. All rights reserved. Trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of Siemens AG, its affiliates, or their respective owners. Subject to change without prior notice. The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which may not apply in all cases. The required technical options should therefore be specified in the contract. www.siemens.com/energy