ABB Wins $36 Million Texas HVDC Order to Boost Power Exchange with Mexico
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HVDC converter station to increase power transfer capacity between Texas and Mexico and improve grid reliability
Zurich, Switzerland - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $36 million from Sharyland Utilities L.P. to supply and install a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station in Texas, USA.
The 150 megawatt (MW) back-to-back HVDC converter station will be built in Mission, Texas, where an identical installation was delivered by ABB in 2007. The two stations, part of the Railroad DC Tie Expansion project, will work in parallel to provide a transmission capacity of up to 300 MW. This will increase the power transfer capacity between Texas and Mexico and secure power supply.
"Availability and security of power supplies is key to economic growth and HVDC is a proven technology when it comes to efficient and reliable transmission of electricity," said Brice Koch, head of ABB's Power Systems division. "We are delighted to work with Sharyland Utilities once again on this important interconnection to improve power exchange capability and help enhance the reliability of the grid."
ABB will design, engineer, supply and install the converter station including high-voltage equipment such as power transformers and thyristor valves. The station is scheduled to go into operation in 2014.
"The expansion of our HVDC facility from 150 MW to 300 MW is a significant project for us, and we are pleased to partner with ABB once again," said Mark Caskey, Senior Vice President of Sharyland Utilities. "Based upon our experience with ABB during the initial phase of the project in 2007, we believe their technical strength and HVDC knowledge made this an easy decision."
ABB pioneered HVDC transmission technology almost 60 years ago and has built a vast global installed base, having completed more than 70 HVDC projects around the world, with a total transmission capacity of over 60,000 MW.
ABB recently announced a technology breakthrough for future high voltage DC grids. More information is available here.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people. The company's North American operations, headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, employ about 27,000 people in multiple manufacturing, service and other major facilities.
For more information, please contact:
ABB Group Corporate Communications, Zurich
Thomas Schmidt, Antonio Ligi
Tel: +41 43 317 6568
Fax: +41 43 317 7958
media.relations@ch.abb.com
http://twitter.com/ABBcomms
For further information please refer to www.abb.com/news
Bill Rose
Manager, Media Relations
ABB Inc.
940 Main Campus Drive
27606 Raleigh, North Carolina, UNITED STATES
Phone: +1 919 807 5743
Mobile: +1 919 244 4879
email: bill.rose@us.abb.com
