ABB has won a USD 30 million (approx. EUR 26 million) order from ScottishPower Renewables to supply two SVC Light® Static Compensators (STATCOMs) to enable voltage stabilisation and enhanced power quality for the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm.
The technology will smooth out the voltage fluctuations that are an inherent feature of intermittent wind energy, according to ABB. The STATCOMs will increase power transfer capability, improve power quality and enhance grid stability, enabling more energy efficient and reliable power supplies for millions of consumers.
Two advanced ABB TrafoStar™ Autotransformers will be incorporated in the STATCOM system. These compact and low weight transformers are ideal for this type of application as they combine the functionality of two transformers in one, while boosting energy efficiency by significantly reducing the total losses, ABB said.
“ABB’s advanced STATCOM and transformer technologies will not only help stabilize voltage fluctuations and enhance power capacity but also improve the quality and reliability of renewable wind energy supplies to millions of people,” said Patrick Fragman , head of ABB’s Grid Integration business, a part of the company’s Power Grids division.
East Anglia ONE, consisting of 102 Siemens 7MW wind turbines, is scheduled for full commissioning by the end of 2018.