ABB energises first phase of India’s most advanced UHVDC power link.

ABB, power and automation technology group, has energised the first pole of the North-East Agra 800 kilovolt (kV) ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission link, which will supply clean hydropower from northeastern India to a nodal substation in Agra and from there, feed it across north India.

The project is being executed by ABB together with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited on a turnkey basis, including design, system engineering, supply, installation and commissioning for Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, India’s central transmission utility.

This completes phase one of the project, which enables transfer of up to 1,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity along this link, across a distance of 1,728 kilometers. When fully commissioned in 2016, the link will become the world’s first multi-terminal UHVDC connection, capable of transmitting enough electricity to serve around 90 million people, based on average national consumption.

HBL