First 800-kV High-Voltage Direct-Current Link in China Now Fully Operational
Second pole boosts transmission capacity to 5000 megawatts
Siemens Energy and the utility China Southern Power Grid have put into operation the
second pole of the world-record HVDC system, which is capable of transporting huge
amounts of clean hydro power to Guangdong Province. The transmission capacity has now
been doubled to 5000 megawatts (MW). With one pole operating at plus 800 kilovolts (kV)
and the other at minus 800 kV, the voltage difference between the poles reaches the world record of 1600 kV DC. In December 2009, the link had also set the world record for first DC operation ever at a voltage level of 800 kV DC. Since that date, Pole 1 has operated at nominal power of 2500 MW without any interruptions.
"This has been an ambitious project including ground-breaking product developments and we have ultimately even managed to complete it ahead of schedule. With DC systems operating at ultra high-voltage levels we now have the transmission technology of the future in our portfolio. This technology is ideal for transporting clean, renewable power over thousands of kilometers to consumers - with nearly zero losses," said Udo Niehage, CEO of the Power Transmission Division of Siemens Energy.
The ecofriendly, CO2-free power totaling 5000 MW, produced by several hydro power plants in the remote Yunnan Province with its high levels of rainfall will be transported with minimal losses to the rapidly growing industrial region in the Pearl River delta in Guangdong Province with its megacities Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This will reduce annual CO2 emissions by over 30 megatons compared with equivalent fossil-fueled power plants in the power grid of Guangdong Province.
The Yunnan-Guangdong UHVDC system covers a transmission distance close to 1500 kilometers. The new ultra-high voltage level of 800 kV offers global transmission operators economical lowloss bulk power transmission over even longer distances. Distances of 3000 kilometers and even more are feasible now with UHVDC technology of this kind: At a transmission capacity of 5000 MW losses are as low as around two percent per 1000 kilometers, plus less than 1.5 percent losses for both converter stations at the sending and receiving end of the transmission line.
Together with its Chinese partners, Siemens designed the entire HVDC system for the Yunnan-Guangdong project and developed and supplied the core components for this ground-breaking technology, which included 800-kV and 600-kV converter transformers, DC filters and all 800-kV direct-current components.
Energy-efficient HVDC systems for highly reliable, low-loss transmission of large amounts of power over long distances are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, Siemens generated revenue of 23 billion with products and solutions from its Environmental Portfolio.
During 2009, Siemens customers worldwide were able to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions by a total of 210 million tons with products and solutions from the Siemens
Environmental Portfolio. This amount is equal to the annual CO2 emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin put together. In fiscal 2011, the annual CO2 savings are projected to total at least 300 million tons, which roughly corresponds to the current emissions of six major cities - New York, Tokyo, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Rome.
The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas.
In fiscal 2009 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR25.8 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR30 billion and posted a profit of EUR3.3 billion. On September 30, 2009, the Energy Sector had a work force of more than 85,100. Further information is available at: http://www.siemens.com/energy
Siemens AG
Corporate Communications and Government Affairs
Wittelsbacherplatz 2, 80333 Munich
Germany
Media Relations: Torsten Wolf
Telephone: +49 9131 18-82532
E-mail: torsten.tw.wolfr@siemens.com
Siemens AG
Energy Sector - Power Transmission Division
Freyeslebenstr. 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
