ABB has won orders worth approximately $55 million from Canadian utility BC Hydro to deliver flexible alternating-current transmission systems (FACTS) designed to help increase transmission capacity through new and existing power lines.
ABB will design, supply, install and commission three series capacitors: two at Seymour Arm, British Columbia, and one at Ruby Creek, British Columbia. The installation at Seymour Arm is expected to be in service by the end of 2013, followed by Ruby Creek in 2014.
The Ruby Creek installation is part of the Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Project, a new 500 kV line being constructed to deliver clean energy to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island area. The Seymour Arm series capacitor will enable more power flow without requiring construction of an additional transmission line.
FACTS technologies allow more power to reach consumers with minimal environmental impact, lower investment costs and shorter implementation times than the traditional alternative of building new power plants and transmission lines, ABB explains. The technology also addresses voltage and frequency-stability issues.
