FACTS technology will help increase and stabilize electricity supply
Zurich, Switzerland, May 18, 2007 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a contract worth $35 million for an installation to improve the capacity and reliability of power supplies in central Norway.
The contract was awarded by Statnett, Norway’s state-owned transmission system operator, for a turnkey installation of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) technology that will help the Central-Norway region import more electricity to meet rising demand in an already heavily loaded transmission grid.
FACTS technology increases the capacity of the existing transmission network, allowing it to transport more electricity. It also damps power oscillations and reduces the need for new transmission towers and lines. The contract includes two units of reactive power compensation using ABB’s Static Var Compensator (SVC) technology – part of the FACTS portfolio – that will be located at Viklandet and Tunnsjødal substations.
“We are very pleased that Statnett has chosen ABB for this challenging and important project,” said Peter Leupp, head of the Power Systems division. “ABB's top-quality power products, system expertise and short delivery times support Statnett to provide their customers with reliable, stable supplies of power.”
ABB is the world leader in the global FACTS market. It delivered Norway’s first SVC in 1981, and has delivered a total of seven SVCs to Statnett. The latest contract is scheduled for completion in 2008.