ABB to support Canadian power grid

ABB, a Switzerland-based power and automation technology group, has secured an order worth approximately $60m from Hydro-Québec to replace key components of the ultra-high voltage transmission network that supplies clean hydroelectricity from North to South Quebec in Canada.

Under the terms of the deal, ABB will upgrade two Static Var Compensators (SVC) at the Albanel power substation, built nearly 500km north of Montreal. The upgrade work is slated to be completed by 2016.

The Albanel substation provides fast-acting reactive power compensation for the 735kV electricity transmission system.

ABB Power Systems division head Claudio Facchin said, "This upgrade will significantly extend the life of the SVCs and substantially reduce electrical losses."

SVCs are part of ABB’s family of flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) technologies designed to improve the capacity and flexibility of electricity transmission network.

ABB’s SVCs, developed to solve voltage fluctuation issues in the power grid, allow more electricity to pass safely through the transmission network.

FACTS technologies allow more electricity to reach consumers through the existing transmission system, said the company.