Converteam to boost performance of Liyang Pumped Storage Power Plant in China
Shanghai - August 31, 2011 - Power conversion specialist Converteam recently signed a contract with NARI Technology Development Company, a major player in the Chinese electric power industry, to supply Static Frequency Converters (SFC) for the 1500 MW Liyang Pumped Storage Power Plant (PSPP), the largest Pumped Storage Power Plant in Jiangsu Province.
Converteam’s scope of supply includes two sets of 18MW water-cooled Static Frequency Converters, equipped with a high-performance control platform. The SFCs will be used to start-up and run up quickly in pump mode six sets of reversible hydro turbine motor/generators, rated 250MW each. When entering into operation in 2015, turbines will pump water to a higher elevation during off-peak times and release the power through the same pump-turbines during high demand periods.
Converteam’s SFCs feature many advantages for power plants applications: they offer braking possibilities by regenerating the power to the grid; they also offer the flexibility to be used for rotor balancing, bearing inspection and maintenance of the shaft. Compared to a fixed speed solution, this variable speed drive solution can furthermore save up to 50% of energy consumption, thus contributing to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
Liyang PSPP is the third Pumped Storage Power Plant in Jiangsu, after two other major plants, including Shahe PSPP already equipped by Converteam in 2000. All three are part of the state major program to answer the growing demand for electricity in the East of China, to improve quality of the power supply and to mitigate the environmental impacts of coal based power plants.
Mr. Bell Huang, Sales & Marketing Director at Converteam China, says: “After our successful involvement in the Shahe PSPP project, Converteam is once again recognized as an expert in power conversion. Today, we are proud to work with NARI in this major project and bring our expertise in this field. With the impressive growth of the wind power generation capacity in China, more and more power storage will be required in order to ensure grid stability, and Pumped Storage plants represent today the largest opportunity for power storage. Converteam is proud of its contribution to both wind and hydro segment to curb CO2 emissions”.
Lian Fan Vice President of NARI Electrical Control Company, comments this first contract with Converteam:”Converteam’s tailor-made SFC technology featuring high degree of design flexibility as well as the high-performance control platform gives us full confidence in the successful execution of the project”.
As a power conversion specialist, Converteam offers a broad range of Static Frequency Converters (SFC), with power rated between 1MW and 40MW for gas turbine and hydro turbine applications. In hydro, Converteam’s SFC installations are in operation worldwide, including the 1200MW Guangzhou’s PSPP, located in Guangdong Province, China, the largest one in the world and the 1060MW PSPP in Goldisthal, Germany, one of the most advanced hydroelectric power plants in the world.