ABB Wins Subsea HVDC Finland Contract

ABB wins USD$130-million HVDC order for subsea power transmission link from Kraftnät Åland AB.

The contract requires the supply of a new power transmission link between the Finnish mainland and Åland, an autonomous Finnish province at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea, which presently receives its power through an AC (alternating current) cable from Sweden and local renewable sources.

The existing fossil fueled power generation backup facility will be closed down once the new link is in operation. Apart from resolving the supply issue and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the HVDC Light® link will enhance the contribution of renewables to the grid and help Finland reach its emission reduction targets.

ABB will design, engineer, supply and commission two 100 MW, ±80 kV (kilovolt) HVDC Light converter stations, one situated in Ytterby, Åland and the other in Nådendal, Finland. Two 80 kilovolt (kV) submarine cables, each 158 km long, will enable the transmission of power. The link is scheduled to become operational in 2015.

The HVDC system incorporates special features such as active AC voltage support providing greater network stability and the unique ‘black-start’ capability, which provides faster grid restoration in the event of a blackout. The system is DC grid enabled, ie, prepared for a multi-terminal configuration, which allows for additional in-feed from stations, such as future wind power plants.

“The link will enable the integration of more renewable energy, provide security of power supply and grid reliability to Åland,” said Brice Koch, head of ABB's Power Systems division. “Our in-house manufacturing capability for converters, cables and semiconductors – the key components for HVDC – combined with our global track record will help us to deliver a best-in-class solution.”