Bechtel and Alstom to Build Atlantic Wind Connection Project

Alstom HVDC MaxSineTM Voltage Source Converter (VSC) Sub Module

The Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC), developer of the New Jersey Energy Link, the first offshore backbone electricity transmission system proposed in the United States has announced that it has selected both Alstom and Bechtel as it's HVDC technical advisor and  EPC Partner respectively for the New Jersey Link, which is the part of Atlantic wind Connection project (link).

The New Jersey Energy Link will be an offshore electrical transmission cable, buried under the ocean, linking energy resources and users in northern, central and southern New Jersey.  The cable will span the length of New Jersey and when complete could carry 3,000MW of electricity.  The New Jersey Energy Link is expected to be built in three phases over a decade.  The New Jersey Energy Link is expected to begin construction in 2016 and the first phase to be in service in 2019.

Bechtel will construct the Converter stations

Bechtel will engineer, design, and install onshore transmission lines and substations, two onshore convertor stations and one offshore converter station that will make up the New Jersey Energy Link backbone. Bechtel will also oversee the installation of advanced HVDC converter technology and high voltage DC cables to bring power from the offshore wind turbines to the onshore converter stations. 

Alstom will serve as the HVDC technical advisor 

In that capacity, Alstom will provide technical advice to the project, in particular, concerning the manufacture and delivery of the 320 kV HVDC multi-terminal system components. Atlantic Wind Connection Project is expected to utilize HVDC MaxSineTM Voltage Source Converters (VSC) (link), which are multi-terminal HVDC offshore network that transform the 138 kV or 230 kV alternating current output from offshore wind farm electric service platforms into DC for transmission at 320 kV DC to onshore converters that will be connected to the PJM grid.

Article Published by Rahul R Prabhu
For More Details on the Article contact: rprabhu@renewindians.com