News at STRI
November 27, 2009 - STRI system study for ESKOM with alternative HVDC/HVAC solutions
STRI AB was awarded a very interesting assignment to perform a Feasibility/System Study for Cape strengthening project. The client is Eskom Holdings Limited in South Africa.
The Eskom network has evolved from separate electrical islands to a large synchronised system, where e.g. the Cape Corridor was built during the 1970’s together with the Koeberg nuclear power station in West Cape.
Today Eskom is in the progress of building a 765 kV backbone from Matimba in the Northern region down to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth to strengthen the system and to handle the rapid load increase in areas remote from the generation. Also more generation is under consideration.
HVDC has been identified as attractive for consideration in a number of areas of the expanded Eskom Main Transmission.
The objectives of the study are to analyse the feasibility of various HVDC options available to strengthen the transfer limits into the greater Cape area. Three areas will be studied, namely conversion of 400kV HVAC lines to HVDC, conversion of 765kV HVAC lines to HVDC and new HVDC. Multi-terminal HVDC, Multi-infeed HVDC, System dynamics and SSR also will be considered.
A general analysis on the transmission line reliability will be carried out including AC, DC transmission line reliability, Reliability of Converted lines (from AC to DC), etc.
The study also will provide guide line on the operational resource requirements associated with the future HVDC systems.
Another part of the study covers the investigation of Environmental impacts of the future HVDC systems.
The transfer of know-how and study technology of HVDC system from STRI to Eskom is an important part of this project.
The outcome of the study will be used in the subsequent planning studies to evaluate the future strengthening technology to be used.
The study was started in August 2009 and is planned to be completed in May 2010.
