ABB wins ultrahigh voltage power transformer order in India

Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth $18 million from Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) for 765 kV (kilovolt) power transformers. PGCIL is India’s central government owned power transmission utility and among the largest in the world. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The transformers will be installed at Power Grid’s Satna substation in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, part of the infrastructure for transmitting power from the planned 3,960 megawatt Sasan power plant (known in India as an Ultra Mega Power Plant, or UMPP). The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

ABB will be responsible for the design, supply, erection, and commissioning of the 333 MVA, 765 kV single-phase autotransformers. Four of the units will be made in Sweden and the rest will be manufactured at the company’s Vadodara facility in Gujarat, western India. They will use ABB’s TrafoStar^TM platform, a technology concept implemented in all power transformer factories ensuring common design and quality standards.

"We are delighted to play a part in India’s efforts to develop its 765 kV network” said Tarak Mehta, head of ABB’s global Transformers business, a part of the company’s Power Products division. “The high reliability of these transformers ensures maximum availability, significant energy savings and reduced life cycle costs. Our global technologies and extensive local manufacturing and testing facilities enable us to offer competitive, best-in-class solutions.”

ABB is making a significant contribution to India’s development of an ultrahigh voltage network, having supplied 765 kV transformers to Power Grid’s Seoni project and National Thermal Power Corporation’s Sipat project. ABB is presently executing turnkey solutions for Power Grid’s 765/400 kV Bilaspur, Agra, Wardha and Seoni substations.

Transformers are integral components of any electrical grid, and are a critical element in the efficient and safe conversion of energy across diverse voltage systems. ABB’s transformer portfolio includes power transformers rated up to 1000 kV, dry and liquid distribution transformers as well as related services and components.

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 120,000 people.

Source: ABB