Hitachi Energy confirms support for long-term operation of largest HVDC-connected wind energy project in US　　　　　　　　　　

Hitachi Energy on Monday confirmed signing a multi-year agreement that provides service solutions to the huge SunZia Transmission Project linking New Mexico’s wind farms to Arizona’s grid.

The deal with Pattern Energy supports its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies for the emerging facility. 

The link will connect the 3,515MW SunZia Wind project in New Mexico to Arizona and Western States. It will be one of the world’s largest transmission links delivering renewable energy.

Mass access to renewables

The under-construction SunZia Transmission HVDC is owned by Pattern Energy, one of the world’s largest privately-owned developers and operators of renewable energy and transmission projects. 

Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light technology will efficiently transfer and integrate huge volumes of wind power across more than 885km (550 miles) into the regional power grid. 

This will significantly increase the availability of sustainable energy for homes and businesses throughout the region when it enters operation, slated for 2025. 

Creating energy legacy

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology 70 years ago and has since delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects.

When complete, SunZia Wind will produce enough clean, renewable electricity to provide power to approximately three million Americans.

The HVDC link will efficiently transmit up to 3,000MW of this power west to Arizona while the HVDC Light system will be the largest voltage source converter installation in the US, one of the largest worldwide, and one of the country’s longest HVDC connections.

Ensuring effectiveness

Andreas Berthou, Global Head of HVDC business at Hitachi Energy, said the company was proud to again be selected to provide “unique service expertise to keep the important SunZia link operating at maximum efficiency, performance, and reliability”.

“With our service solutions, we are building a partnership ecosystem to ensure continued support to the HVDC link throughout its lifetime, delivering cutting-edge digital service with sustainability and customer value at its core.”

Showing the way forward

Paul Haberlein, Pattern Energy’s VP of Operational Excellence, described the SunZia transmission and wind projects as providing “a roadmap to accelerate the transition to renewable energy”.

He continued: “SunZia will play a vital role in delivering clean and sustainable energy to Western States. Pattern selected Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader, as our partner to engineer, manufacture, and maintain the HVDC converter stations after they enter operation.”