Technologies unveiled during AWEA WINDPOWER 2013, at the ABB booth (#3743), include:
High Voltage DC Breakers for Wind
ABB recently developed a powerful high-voltage direct current (HVDC) breaker that will significantly impact the use of wind-generated electricity. The HVDC breaker removes a 100-year-old technological barrier in the development of DC transmission grids.
DC can carry three times more power over long distances with up to 50 percent less power loss than alternating current. In the past, it was not widely used due to an inability to safely stop the current or identify errors across a power grid. The new HVDC technology facilitates the long distance transfer of off-shore wind energy into electricity networks in a safe, cost-efficient and power-saving manner.
The hybrid HVDC breaker development has been a flagship research project for ABB, which invests over $1 billion annually in R&D activities. The first uses are expected to be with integration of electric transmission from large-scale renewable power projects planned in Europe.
“Over the years, natural gas has presented the wind industry with pricing competition, but it is not an infinite source and experiences significant cost fluctuations,” said McKinley. “Wind energy will continue as a plentiful source, and ABB’s HVDC breaker represents a huge stride in harnessing the potential of wind energy as a viable power supply and improving the future grid.”
Further information, including video, can be found at http://www.abb.com/hvdcgrid.
Prior to the trade show on Sunday, May 5, ABB hosted a well-attended “Red TIE (Technical Information Exchange) event on transformers, with discussions on the technical virtues of various transformers as they relate specifically to wind applications
With over 30 years of experience, in-depth know-how, global manufacturing footprint and thorough understanding of both wind turbine applications and power systems, ABB serves wind power customers at every stage of the process. ABB is the leading supplier to the wind power industry of electrical products and solutions. ABB is also the leading provider of offshore wind transmission solutions, including HVDC Light® undersea and underground transmission power systems.
The AWEA WINDPOWER 2013 Conference and Exhibition is being held this year in Chicago at the McCormick Place Convention Center. ABB will be exhibiting in booth # 3743 in Exhibit Hall A of the South Building of the McCormick Place Conference Center.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve 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 over 27,000 people in multiple manufacturing, service and other major facilities.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Rose
ABB Media Relations
919-807-5743 – office
919-244-4879 – mobile
bill.rose@us.abb.com
www.abb.us
Where ABB solutions play in wind power development