Hitachi ABB Power Grids transformers for the worlds largest solar power plant
Hitachi ABB Power Grids transformers are playing a critical part in connecting the world’s largest single-site PV solar power plant to the Abu Dhabi grid.
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UAE, Abu Dhabi: Hitachi ABB Power Grids powerful ‘step-up’ transformers and power quality products are playing a critical part in connecting the world’s largest single-site photovoltaic solar power plant to the Abu Dhabi grid.
The electricity generated at the solar plant is integrated into the grid with two 500 MVA Hitachi ABB Power Grids transformers, each weighing around 350 t. The transformers collect all the generated power and boost the voltage of the electricity from 33 kV to 220 kV and transfer it safely and reliably into the transmission grid for distribution across the country.
The two transformers are based on Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ TrafoStar™ design concept, a unified engineering technology platform. This provides customers with the same standard of high quality, high reliability and low maintenance requirements across the company’s manufacturing facilities. This global transformer manufacturing footprint also means that Hitachi ABB Power Grids can provide production close to solar installations.
To improve efficiency and reliability of the solar plant, Hitachi ABB Power Grids has also supplied eighteen, 15 Mvar capacitor banks, tailor-made by our Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ Power Quality Centre, offering customers technical expertise that combines local knowledge with global technologies, to improve key power quality parameters and offer ongoing service support.
Giant PV plants are a demanding application for transformers and capacitor banks. They operate intensively for 12 hours, in extreme heat, then shut down when the sun disappears, and temperature drops substantially. These twice-daily shifts in activity and temperature are challenging, causing components to physically expand and contract, placing large demands on the cooling systems and even effecting the electrical properties of the equipment. Such harsh conditions require robust, precision-engineered equipment that can withstand the tough conditions and operate reliably day after day, for decades.
Hitachi ABB Power Grids is one of the few companies approved by the transmission grid operator, TRANSCO, to supply power quality products and transformers of this size, capacity and importance. The technology pioneer was awarded the contract by the engineering, procurement and construction contractor, Sterling and Wilson Solar, for the ability to meet TRANSCO requirements, specifications and a tight delivery deadline. Hitachi ABB Power Grids experience is also translated in a close collaboration with the system designers and users to jointly find the optimum technical, energy efficient and cost-effective solution.
Souce: Hitachi ABB