— 08 Hitachi to Acquire a Majority Stake in ABB's Power Grids Business
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ffwd Focus on power grids 01 | 2019 — 08 Hitachi to acquire a majority stake in ABB’s Power Grids business 10 Making the Richborough connection for National Grid 12 Shore-to-ship power converters to control emissions for smart ports 22 Replacing the GCBs for ENGIE’s Dinorwig power station 32 IFA2 link converter stations hit half-way stage Please re-register to continue receiving FFWD – see page 2 — — ffwd 01 | 2019 Editorial Focus on Karen Strong, Marketing Communications Manager power grids for ABB Power Grids ABB’s Power Grids Dear reader, division is the world’s On 17th December, Hitachi announced a deal to acquire a majority leading supplier of stake in ABB’s Power Grids division. We believe the investment will power and automation bring certainty for customers and employees. That’s why we’ve taken a closer look at the announcement and how the Power Grids business will products, systems and fit into Hitachi’s business on pages 8-9. service solutions across A more significant change for our customers in the UK is, of course, the the power value chain 29th March deadline for the UK to leave the European Union. ABB’s of generation, plans to ensure the continued supply of spares, technology solutions and access to expert skills and knowledge that our customers in the UK transmission and rely on are well advanced. distribution serving Led by Ian Funnell, ABB’s UK Managing Director, we have a specialist utility, industry, team looking at the financial, policy and legal aspects of Brexit and transportation and making sure that we have plans in place for all outcomes. We are putting in place the people and processes to manage new demands for infrastructure paperwork and bureaucracy to keep meeting our customers’ needs. customers directly ABB is active in one area where the UK is building closer ties with Europe: and through channel interconnectors. This edition of ffwd features an update on the delivery partners. The division is of converter stations for the IFA2 link on page 32. We also feature ABB’s role in National Grid’s Richborough Connection, which will connect the focused on addressing Nemo Link UK-Belgium interconnector to the UK grid (page 10) key areas such as the Looking at power distribution, Darren Jones, Technology Manager, integration of renewable takes the opportunity to explain how he is working with Distribution energies, growing Network Operators to help them prepare for their transition to Distribution System Operators – see page 26 for details. network complexity, grid automation and I hope you will enjoy reading all of our latest news. microgrids. The division also offers a full range of consulting, service and asset management Karen Strong, Marketing Communications Manager for ABB Power Grids solutions based on a lifecycle approach. — Re-register to continue receiving FFWD Prompted by the new GDPR data protection regulations, we are asking readers who would like to continue receiving FFWD to re-register with the attached reply card or via www.abb.co.uk/ffwd ABB.CO.UK/FFWD WELCOME 03 — — News Consulting 04 Latest news from ABB Power Grids 28 Krish Chettur on solving tough challenges — — Acquisition Enterprise software 08 Switching on to Hitachi 30 Ellipse to provide foundation for Network — Rail Substations — HVDC 10 Making the Richborough connection — 32 IFA2 converter station update Smart ports 33 Energising SSE’s Caithness Moray link — 12 Central power converter for Portsmouth — Power quality Switchgear 34 New multi-functional PQ power quality product family 14 PASS M0H for rapid installation — — Smart grids Transformers 36 Imperial College smart grid demonstrator 16 TXplore robotic transformer inspection — — Trackside substations Digitalisation 38 Full product approval for SMOS Light 18 Why power grids are going digital — — Communication Grid edge 39 Keymile mission critical communications 20 Steve Jones on grid edge technology — — Innovation Service 40 Vibroacoustic analysis to reduce 22 Replacing GCBs at Dinorwig transformer noise — Fault current limiters 24 Tata Steel’s Port Talbot substation 25 Electricity North West’s IS-Limiter — Innovation funding 26 Supporting the DNO to DSO transition ffwd issue 1/19 • The customer newsletter of ABB Power Grids • Subscription newsletter available as printed or electronic copy. Subscribe online at abb.co.uk/ffwd • Contact and feedback [email protected] • Publisher ABB Limited, Power Grids division, Oulton Road, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0RS. Phone 01785 825 050 04 FFWD 01 | 19 NEWS — Enabling the Clean reliable power for millions first HVDC grid ABB is supplying critical elements for Kangbao an HVDC grid designed by the State F Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). The Zhangbei Zhangbei HVDC grid in the Beijing- 00 W Beijing Tianjin-Hebei area of China will Clean energy to 9 million integrate remote wind, solar and hydro people energy in a transmission network that China takes the form of a ring that will enable SGCC to deliver up to 4,500 MW of clean energy. W ABB will supply critical elements including an HVDC Light valve, wall The world’s largest and most 4 interconnected HVDC Optimization and balancing bushings, transformer components, advanced Voltage Sourced stations in a ring network power flow and reinforcing high-voltage capacitors and power Converter (VSC) HVDC system of 648 km AC-grid semiconductor devices. — — The result is a reduction in the cost of RATS named electrification as the approach reduces Digital the need for trackside substations and innovation of cabling, which is estimated to save technology to around £1 million over every 10km. The the year other benefit is saving time taken to keep Welsh clear faults, which in turn protects The rail electrification scheme equipment from damage and boots off ballast implemented by ABB on the Great maximises availability. Western line was named as 2018’s top ABB experts shared insight into innovation at Rail magazine’s National Judges said: “We were blown away the potential for technology to Rail Awards in September. by the description of what this enhance safety in the rail industry at innovation has achieved. It appears to the Welsh Transport Conference on ABB deployed Network Rail’s be a world first in the electricity 29th November 2018. Rail segment Rationalised Autotransformer Scheme industry. It represents a big step manager Jay Mehta and rail industry (RATS), which uses an innovative change in design and standards, solution executive Robert Alonso approach to substation protection and offering numerous future benefits, gave a presentation at the Cardiff control that has enabled installation of including cost reduction, construction event to highlight how the latest load break switches instead of more timescale reduction, less maintenance, digital solutions can reduce the need costly circuit breakers at non- more reliability and less damage for unscheduled trackside sectioning distribution substations. through faults.” maintenance through predictive and preventative maintenance. Jay Mehta said: “The best thing about the Welsh Transport Conference was the opportunity to build relationships and talk to new contacts about how digital technology can help Wales improve safety be keeping boots off the ballast.” ABB.CO.UK/FFWD NEWS 05 — — Supporting RIA at the party Linxon joint conferences venture ABB took the opportunity to support where Transport Secretary Chris Kangbao F the rail industry during the political Grayling MP set the case for investment Zhangbei party conference season in September in rail. Shadow minister Andy and October. Senior executives from McDonald MP also set out Labour’s 00 W Beijing Clean energy ABB joined the national debate by stall to a packed room in Liverpool. to 9 million supporting the Railway Industry people China Association’s fringe events at the Ian Funnell, ABB’s UK Managing Conservative and Labour party Director said: “It’s vital to engage in conferences in September and the debate and help policymakers stay W October 2018. well-informed about the latest technology developments and how There was standing room only at the they can achieve value for money for The world’s largest and most 4 interconnected HVDC Optimization and balancing Conservative event in Birmingham, passengers and taxpayers.” advanced Voltage Sourced stations in a ring network power flow and reinforcing Converter (VSC) HVDC system of 648 km AC-grid Since 1st September 2018, ABB has been working hand-in-hand with project and programme management specialist SNC Lavalin under the Linxon joint venture. Linxon is a worldwide partnership to combine ABB’s technology leadership with SNC Lavalin’s extensive programme management capabilities. “Linxon will combine ABB’s technology leadership with SNC-Lavalin’s expertise in managing infrastructure projects to deliver enhanced customer value” said Claudio Facchin, President of ABB’s Power Grids division. ”This joint venture will help capture new business opportunities for both companies and reinforces our strategy of forging new alliances and business — models, as part of the ABB Power Grids Sunday Times Transport Correspondent Mark Hookham quizzes Transport Secretary Chris Grayling MP at the Conservative Party Conference ‘Power Up’ transformation programme.” — environmental stewardship and Celebrating innovation with the IET social progress.” ABB was excited to sponsor the IET Built environment firm Arup was Innovation Awards at a carnival- announced as the winner of the themed event at the Brewery in London sustainability category for its on 14 November. bladeless air induction unit, a device that will save energy for air Andy Myatt said: “The Innovation conditioning systems as it consumes Awards are a great celebration of the 65 percent less energy than a many forms of technology innovation conventional fan. that exist. ABB sponsored the Sustainability and Environmental category because it fits so well with — ABB’s Andy Myatt with Ralph Wilson of Arup and our goal to balance economic success, comedy writer and presenter Sally Phillips 06 FFWD 01 | 19 EARPIECE — the project, ABB will install the first The project builds on ABB’s launch of a ever GIS rated at 380 kV that is 170kV version of the switchgear in 2015.