Back to Back System Will Create Eighth Link of the Eastern & Western
Transmission Grids
RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Power
Transmission & Distribution, Inc., an affiliate of Siemens AG (NYSE: SI),
announced today that they and their partner, Beta Engineering, have begun
construction under a contract from Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCO),
Denver, CO, for a High Voltage DC (HVDC) back to back converter. In February
of 2003 PSCO, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE: XEL), Minneapolis, MN,
awarded the contract to the Siemens/Beta consortium for the design,
procurement, construction and commissioning of the HVDC Converter tie to be
located in Lamar, Colorado. The tie will connect Xcel Energy's Southwestern
Public Service Company (SPS) system in the eastern interconnection with its
PSCO system in the western interconnection, and allow 210 MW of power transfer
capability in each direction. The HVDC intertie will begin commercial
operation by the end of 2004.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021029/SILOGO )
"We chose the Siemens/Beta team following an extensive evaluation of
technical, economic and commercial considerations," said Don Jones, Director
of Transmission Asset Management at Xcel Energy. "The connection of Xcel
Energy's PSCO and SPS systems will meet a commitment made when the two
utilities merged," he added. "It also provides an important eighth connection
between the nation's Eastern and Western electric grids."
The Siemens and Beta team consists of the Siemens High Voltage Systems
(HVS) division in Wendell, NC, Siemens Reactive Power division in Erlangen,
Germany, and Beta Engineering in Pineville, Louisiana. Siemens HVS is
providing overall project management and coordination with Siemens Germany,
Beta Engineering and Xcel Energy officials for the completion of the back to
back tie. Beta Engineering is the EPC contractor for the project. Siemens
and Beta have partnered on over a dozen high voltage transmission system
projects in the US since 1990.
About Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution (USA)
Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh,
NC, creates innovative equipment and energy service solutions for electric
utilities, independent power producers, co-generators and other energy-
intensive industries. Its products and systems are used to increase power
system capacity and improve the reliability, stability and flexibility of
power delivery systems. It has operations in Wendell, NC; Jackson, MS,
Minneapolis, MN; San Jose, CA; and Atlanta, GA. For more information visit,
http://www.ptd.siemens.com.
About Beta Engineering
Beta Engineering, headquartered in Pineville, LA, is an EPC contractor
specializing in the design, procurement and construction of high voltage
substations, transmission lines and FACTS projects throughout the United
States. For more information, visit http://www.BetaEngineering.com.
Backgrounder on HVDC Technology follows
About High Voltage DC (HVDC) Transmission Systems
HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) transmission systems connect two
separate high voltage AC Systems via a DC link and are used for energy
transmission world-wide. HVDC solves the complex problems of connecting power
sources to power users over long distances or across large bodies of water
where underwater cables are used. HVDC back to back links have been installed
to connect two power systems together where synchronous ties could not be used
or where the systems operated at different frequencies (e.g., 50 and 60 Hz).
Recently, HVDC has been examined as a form of pipeline system to bypass
existing AC transmission grids for the purposes of moving power from generator
to load. This could emerge as a very viable technical solution to meet the
requirements for an open generation market system. They are a useful
supplement or in some cases the only alternative for traditional High Voltage
Alternating Current (HVAC) systems.
These HVDC transmission systems are specifically used to:
* connect asynchronous grids or grids with different frequencies
* economically transmit electrical energy over long distances via overhead
lines or cable
Siemens has been one of the leading companies in HVDC technology for more
than 25 years.
SOURCE Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.ptd.siemens.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021029/SILOGO
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Rita Simonetta, Senior Manager,
Communications of Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution,
Inc., +1-919-325-7044, or rita.simonetta@siemens.com
|
