Switzerland-based power and automation company ABB is exhibiting its range of technology that supports the renewable energy sector at the Hannover Fair in Germany beginning today. The exhibition ends April 17.
The company will be showcasing its innovations in the transmission grid, including a new polyethylene (XPLE) cabling system and terminations rated for 525 kV DC.
The system essentially helps further reduce power loss over long distance transmission lines.
It clears the way for high-capacity underground highways for transmission of electricity to be laid out at least in a few sections of transmission corridors, ABB has stated.
The new system will have the same transmission capacity as the conventional system. That is, a pair of advanced cables used in the system can transmit 2.6 gigawatts of power, adequate to supply major cities such as Munich or Stuttgart.
Also among its innovations for the renewable energy sector is ABB’s gas-insulated switchgear (GIS).
Switchgears are essential for ensuring the safety and availability of modern electricity networks.
The company claims it has improved the energy and environmental efficiency of its new switchgears.
The solution it is to present for the 170 kV GIS systems, replaces the traditional insulating gas mixture of sulfur hexafluoride gas (SF6) a more efficient mix.
According to ABB, the new gas mix performs similarly to SF6 but is far more environment friendly. It promises to cut the life-time emissions of the devices by 50 percent.
The insulating properties of the new ABB gas mixture are similar to those of SF6, but much more environmentally sound. Emissions over the service life of the equipment are reduced by 50 percent.
Ewz, a Zurich-based power provider, will be testing a pilot installation of the new device at one of its substations later this year.
Ajith Kumar S