ABB To Strengthen Transmission Grid In New Mexico, US

Static Var Compensators (SVCs) to boost power flow and enhance electric reliability and quality of supply as part of major infrastructure expansion project

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has been contracted by Xcel Energy, a major US electricity and natural gas company, to deliver two SVCs to support its transmission grid expansion in New Mexico.

The SVCs, to be located at Xcel Energy’s Roadrunner and China Draw substations, will provide the necessary dynamic voltage support for new loads that have been added to the 115 kilovolt (kV) network in southeast New Mexico. ABB’s turnkey solution includes design, engineering, installation and commissioning of the two SVCs, each rated 115 kV. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

Economic growth in southeast New Mexico, in particular developments in mining, oil and natural gas extraction coupled with residential housing, have prompted Xcel Energy to pursue an infrastructure expansion plan, with the company investing significantly in new high-voltage transmission and distribution lines and substations.

The investment is part of Xcel Energy’s ‘Power for the Plains’, a $1.6B transmission expansion plan in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma to help improve electric reliability, strengthen the existing transmission grid and integrate additional wind generation.

SVCs are part of ABB’s family of FACTS (Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems) technologies, that help enhance the capacity and flexibility of power transmission systems and contribute to the evolution of smarter grids.

FACTS solutions allow more power to reach consumers through the existing transmission network. This results in lower investment costs and shorter implementation times than the traditional alternative of building new power plants and transmission lines, with the additional benefit of minimizing environmental impact. They also help address voltage and frequency stability issues and enable the transmission system to run more efficiently. ABB is a global leader in the growing field of FACTS, and has delivered more than 800 such installations across the world.

“We are pleased to support the strengthening of New Mexico’s grid infrastructure and help improve the quality and reliability of power supplies to industrial and residential customers in the region,” said Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABB’s Substations business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. “This project reinforces ABB’s position as a global leader in FACTS technologies.”

About ABB
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people. For more information, visit www.abb.com