Hitachi Energy is to supply its high voltage direct current (HVDC) and other technologies for a project to connect a giant wind farm in New Mexico.
Pattern Energy’s SunZia Transmission Project will use Hitachi Energy’s kit to connect the 3.5GW SunZia Wind project in New Mexico to the power grid in Arizona and Southern California.
The SunZia Transmission project is a 3000MW HVDC link between Corona, New Mexico and Pinal County, Arizona.
Hitachi Energy has already started work on designing and engineering the two HVDC Light converter stations, one at either end of the link, which will be over more than 885 km long.
The transmitting station converts the power from AC to DC for transport in the overhead lines, then back to AC for integration into the receiving grid.
When complete it will be among the world’s largest transmission links delivering renewable energy.
The HVDC link will efficiently transmit up to 3000 MW of SunZia’s wind output to Arizona.
The HVDC Light system will be the largest voltage source converter (VSC) installation in the United States, one of the largest worldwide, and one of the country’s longest HVDC connections, said Hitachi Energy.
“We are proud to be advancing a sustainable energy future for all in the southwestern United States, enabling Pattern Energy to integrate emission-free electricity into the regional grid serving Arizona and Southern California,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business.
Hitachi Energy has partnered with Quanta Services to provide a turnkey project solution for the SunZia project, including managing the HVDC construction and building installation at the associated project sites.
The HVDC converter stations are expected to be in-service by the end of 2025 to support final testing and commissioning of the SunZia Wind facilities in 2026.
Hitachi Energy will also supply AC “chopper technology” to help restore power if the power flow on the DC line or in the AC grid in Arizona is temporarily interrupted by weather and other contingency events.