Hitachi Energy to secure power supply in
Africa’s longest HVDC link
Long-term service agreement will extend
the operating life of the 40-year-old link, which is vital for economic growth
in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Dubai, October 17, 2022 - Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a
sustainable energy future for all, today announced it has signed a long-term
service agreement with Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL), the national
electricity company of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to secure power supply
in the country’s most important power transmission asset: the Inga-Kolwezi
high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link.
The link supplies up to 1,000 megawatts
of emission-free electricity from the Inga Falls hydropower plant in the far
west of the country to the Kolwezi mining region in the south. With a length of
1,700 kilometers, it is the longest HVDC link in Africa. It also enables the Democratic
Republic of Congo to export surplus power to the member countries of the
Southern African Power Pool.
The agreement continues the close
collaboration between SNEL and Hitachi Energy over the past 40 years to ensure
the link operates at maximum availability and reliability over its long
operating life. Hitachi Energy supplied the two converter stations at either
end of the link in 1982 and has subsequently upgraded them and doubled
transmission capacity. *1
As part of the agreement, Hitachi Energy will
assess the precise service needs of the converter stations and develop a
preventive maintenance program and supervise its implementation over the next
five years. The agreement includes training, knowledge sharing and expertise
enhancement of SNEL service personnel.
“We are delighted to be continuing our
long collaboration with SNEL to protect the nation’s investment in its most
important power transmission link,” said Andreas Berthou, HVDC and HVDC Service
Global Product Group Manager of Hitachi Energy. “This long-term service
agreement demonstrates how we work closely with the customer to secure
availability and reliability over the entire lifetime of the asset.”
“Hitachi Energy has been a close and
valued partner of SNEL for almost 50 years, when we first collaborated on the
design of what was then a groundbreaking HVDC link with the world’s longest
transmission line,” said Jean-Bosco Kayombo Kayan, CEO of SNEL. “Since then, we
have worked closely together to increase the capacity and maximize the reliability
of this critical national infrastructure.”
Note to editors:
Hitachi Energy’s HVDC solution combines
world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves; the MACH™ digital control
platform*2, converter power transformers and high-voltage
switchgear; as well as system studies, design and engineering, supply,
installation supervision and commissioning.
HVDC Light® is a voltage source converter
technology developed by Hitachi Energy. It is the preferred technology for many
grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables
and “power-from-shore” connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC
Light’s defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and
exceptionally low electrical losses.
Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC
technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s
HVDC projects.
*2Modular Advanced Control for HVDC (MACH™)
HVDC website:
https://www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdc
-Ends-
About Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy is a global technology
leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve
customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative
solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and
partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation
required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future.
We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible
and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi
Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than
140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 40,000 people in
90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion
USD.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy
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About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation
Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will
solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT,
OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of
Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective
Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we
aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company’s
consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled
10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries
and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi,
please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.
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