Make In India: Alstom Vadodara makes country’s first 800kV converter transformer

Transformer-Alstom-Vadodara


Vadodara, DeshGujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today flagged off India’s “First Make in India” 800 KV HVDC power transformer for Haryana at Alstom company’s Vadodara plant.

The convertor transformer is part of PowerGrid’ Champa-Kurukshetra link connecting power station near Champa in central India to Kurukshetra.

Rathin Basu, India and Asia President, Alstom India and South Asia said, “Over the past 100 years, Alstom has continuously invested, localised and introduced the latest technologies in India. 800 kV HVDC converter transformers mark a new milestone and demonstrate once again Alstom’s manufacturing and technological prowess.”

Basu said that world’s only five nations have achieved such success. He admired Gujarat government for best infrastructure and other facilities that according to him makes Gujarat the best destination for investors.

In year 2012 Alstom had been awarded a turnkey contract worth approximately €400 million by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, to connect Champa (State of Chhattisgarh), Central India, to Khurukshetra (State of Haryana) in Northern India, using ±800 kV 3,000 MW Ultra High Voltage Direct Current (UHVDC) technology. This advanced UHVDC system will meet the bulk power transfer requirement from Chhattisgarh region – a hub of Independent Power Producers of thermal power – to the load centre located in the northern region of the country, through a 1,365 km transmission line, creating an “energy highway” of clean, efficient power.

Under the terms of the contract, Alstom had to deliver ±800 kV UHVDC thyristor valves, 32 converter transformers, 400/220 kV gas-and air-insulated switchgear and substation equipment, communication and supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA). The scope of work includes overall project management, studies, design, engineering, training, manufacture, civil works at site, erection, site testing and commissioning.

The main Alstom units involved in the project were the HVDC Centre of Excellence in Stafford (UK), and the Alstom Grid India units located at Noida, Hosur, Padappai, Pallavaram and Vadodara in India.

“Alstom’s recent technological advances in HVDC, be it with 800 kV Line Commutated Converter (LCC) or Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology, demonstrate the Group’s commitment to continuous developments in the Ultra High Voltage energy sector,” said Grégoire Poux-Guillaume, Alstom Grid President.

Pioneer of HVDC solutions for 50 years, Alstom has notably built the Ningdong-Shandong 660 kV transmission scheme in China and has also worked on the Rio Madeira project in Brazil, the world’s longest HVDC link. Svenska Kraftnät had selected Alstom’s Voltage Source Converter technology, HVDC MaxSineTM, for the South-West link project in Sweden. In India, Alstom has supplied HVDC systems for Vizag (State of Andhra Pradesh), Chandrapur (State of Maharashtra) and Sasaram (State of Bihar).


A video of the event

PTI adds

The setting up of a 800 KV HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) convertor transformer plant in the city will come to the rescue of many power-starved states which can now borrow electricity from the surplus in Gujarat, said Chief Minister Anandiben Patel here.

She was speaking after inaugurating country’s first Made In India advanced Ultra Transformer plant of Alstom T&D India on the outskirts of the city late last evening.

This HVDC transformer will help transmission of power to power-starved states, she said adding Gujarat’s total installed capacity of power is 22524 MW.

In the past, states like Delhi facing a problem of severe capacity shortage had approached Gujarat for supplying power but it was not then in a position to do so due to non availability of HVDC for transmission of power from one state to another, the CM said.

Patel also said that one lakh farm connections will be given to farmers in the state for which a provision of Rs 1158 crore is made in the Gujarat budget for 2015-16.

She said a sum of Rs 2073 crores will be spent for laying of 2500 kms of transmission lines and setting up of 100 electric sub stations across the state for supplying qualitative power to people staying in remote areas.

About Rs 28 crores will be spent for giving power connections to 42700 BPL families in the state, she added.

In his speech, Rathin Basu country president , Alstom India and South Asia said, “Hvdc is increasingly the preferred choice for utilities to ensure efficient, reliable bulk power transmission over long distance.

Alstom grid is a major supplier of turnkey HVDC solutions worldwide. In India, Alstom has supplied HVDC system for Vizag (Andhra Pradesh) Chandrapur (Maharashtra) Sasaram (Bihar) and is currently constructing the phase I and II 800 kv champa -kurukshetra link, he said.

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