Hitachi Energy selected to support SunZia Transmission project
Power Engineering International
Posted on: 8 May 2024
Hitachi Energy has signed an agreement with Pattern Energy to support its HVDC technologies for the SunZia Transmission Project in the US.
Hitachi Energy has signed an agreement with renewables developer Pattern Energy to support its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies for the SunZia Transmission project in the US.
The HVDC link will connect Pattern Energy's 3,515MW SunZia Wind project in New Mexico to Arizona and Western states, making it one of the world’s largest transmission links.
Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light technology will transfer and integrate huge volumes of wind power over more than 885 kilometers (550 miles) into the regional power grid. The HVDC Light system will be the largest voltage source converter (VSC) installation in the United States, one of the largest worldwide, and one of the country’s longest HVDC connections, according to Hitachi Energy.
The project is expected to be operational in 2025.
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“We’re proud to be selected once again to provide our unique service expertise to keep the important SunZia link operating at maximum efficiency, performance, and reliability,” said Andreas Berthou, global head of the HVDC business at Hitachi Energy.
"With our service solutions, we are building a partnership ecosystem to ensure continued support to the HVDC link throughout its lifetime, delivering cutting edge digital service with sustainability and customer-value at its core.”
When complete, SunZia Wind will be able to power approximately three million Americans.
“The SunZia transmission and wind projects provide a roadmap to accelerate the transition to renewable energy,” said Paul Haberlein, VP of Operational Excellence at Pattern Energy. “SunZia will play a vital role in delivering clean and sustainable energy to Western states. Pattern selected Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader, as our partner to engineer, manufacture and maintain the HVDC converter stations after they enter operation.”
Service for an HVDC system includes a wide range of activities and support, including scheduled maintenance, cyber services, on-site engineering support and life cycle assessment of the HVDC Light stations.
Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology 70 years ago and claims to have the largest installed base of HVDC in the world.
