ABB’s locally designed and produced transformers help domestic customers secure power grid reliability and improve energy efficiency
Beijing, China, January 23, 2009 – Electric power plays a key role in China’s energy development strategy, and the power grid is at the center of power transmission and distribution. In China, power consumption centers are often far from the power sources because of the uneven distribution of energy resources and the capacity of power production. Therefore, power security and a reliable power transmission and distribution network have become vital issues for the nation’s economic development as well as its citizens’ livelihood. Advanced power products and technology play an important role in achieving this goal. Transformers are especially important in the construction of reliable and high performance power systems.
Along with the launch of a number of large scale nationwide power construction projects in China, including urban and rural power grid construction, rural electrification, West-East electricity transmission, nationwide interconnection, South-North Power Transaction, as well as the fast development of infrastructure construction projects, there is an increasing demand for quality, high performance transformer products in China. ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has been committed to local design, production and sales of transformers, combined with consistent technology transfer. The company’s efforts to address local customer demands and improve the overall manufacturing strength of China’s transformer industry have helped domestic producers succeed against international competition and contributed to China’s economic development as a whole.
ABB, the world’s largest transformer manufacturer and technology leader, produces about 1,500 sets of power transformers and over 400,000 distribution transformers through its 57 transformer factories worldwide. Since the inception of its permanent office in China, ABB has joined hands with local partners to setup 5 transformer production facilities in Chongqing, Hefei, Zhongshan, Shanghai and Datong, covering design and manufacturing of 1,000kV and below power transformers, reactors, HVDC converter transformers, distribution transformers, furnace transformers, and other industrial and special transformers, as well as providing technical support and after-sales service. Its comprehensive product portfolio, advanced technology and strong production and design capacity have secured the company’s leadership in China’s transformer industry.
With the fast development of these 5 local ventures, ABB’s locally designed and produced transformers have been widely deployed in the metal, petrochemical, automobile, and paper-making industries as well as in public infrastructure projects at airports, hospitals, and metros, gaining recognition from customers for power grid reliability and improved energy efficiency.
ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. Ltd., the group’s largest production base for transformers and insulation components, ensures the reliability of its UHV transformers and reactors through its advanced manufacturing and testing equipment, as well as constantly upgraded technology for product design and manufacture. With an annual output of 45,000 MVA transformers, the company has engaged in the construction of a great number of key national power projects, including providing a 840MVA/550kV three-phase power transformer to the Right Bank Project of the Three Gorges Dams, and a 500kV power transformer to the 500 kV transformer substation in the North of Beijing which provided power for the Beijing Olympics. In 2008, the company also won the converter transformer order from Northwest-Central China Power Grid DC Interconnection Project and will provide 297MVA/500kV HVDC converter transformers to Deyang 500kV Converter Station. Its products have been exported to Singapore, Laos, Australia and are recognized by overseas customers for their safety, reliability and energy efficiency.
Recently, ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. Ltd. delivered its 1000th transformer, a 750MVA/500kV three-phase power autotransformer, marking a milestone in its history. The transformer is 14 meters in length, a tailored product for the 500kV transformer substation in Zhoukou, targeted to begin operations in 2009. The transformer will increase the power load of the local power grid from 220kV to 500kV, a remarkable achievement in helping alleviate the power shortage of the southeast of Henan province and secure greater reliability of the local power grid.
ABB Hefei Transformer Co. Ltd. is among the first group of recipients of the “China Energy Efficiency Product Certification” issued by the China Standard Certification Center. Its S13, S14* and S15* series high efficient distribution transformers are recognized by industrial customers for their optimal comprehensive performance (low power loss, low noise and low no-load current), ease of installation (miniature scale, light weight design and long lifespan) and outstanding customer benefits (low TCO over the entire lifecycle). During the preparation period for the Beijing Olympics, the company provided 220kV power transformers to key Olympic Projects, including the Huangsi and Hongjunying 220kV transformer substations. This highly efficient power equipment performed at a maximum level of stability and reliability, ensuring power security during the games and significantly contributing to the success of the Beijing Olympics.
Other ABB transformer production facilities in China have also achieved remarkable performance in the industry. On the one hand, their business presence further consolidates ABB’s market leadership in the transformer field. On the other hand, it helps Chinese customers improve the performance of power transmission and distribution and gain international competitiveness. ABB Zhongshan Transformer Co., Ltd. has engaged in the construction of many key industrial and utility projects, including Gezhouba Project of the Three Gorges Dam and Shanghai metro. ABB Shanghai Transformer Co., Ltd has supplied products to the construction of the new CCTV compound. ABB Datong Traction Transformers Co., Ltd. is a key supplier of traction transformers for the construction of China railways, empowering the manufacturing of high-power electric locomotives and motor train units and speeding up the development of China’s railway system.
In addition to the development of its local joint ventures, ABB has continuously introduced its leading technology and expertise to China. In March, 2008, ABB launched its global transformer design center in ABB Chongqing Transformer Co., Ltd. Leveraging its worldwide transformer design platform and standards, ABB China uses its advanced technologies, including the patented TrafoStarTM, LDT+, and CDS technology, to deliver tailored products and services to its local customers. The R&D strength of local facilities have also been enhanced, enabling its Chinese design team to not only address the demands of local customers, but also work with other ABB teams located in Sweden, Germany, and America to research and develop products which meet local demands. “Designed in China” has seen a big rise in its international reputation.
Bernd Muehe, head of the Power Products division of ABB North Asia Region and ABB China, said, “ABB boasts advanced technologies and rich experience in the transformer industry. For a long time, ABB has been introducing its advanced technologies and expertise into the Chinese market, and applying them to many major domestic construction projects, to secure grid reliability and improve energy efficiency. At the same time, our localization efforts have contributed to upgrading the production level and overall strength of China’s transformer industry.”
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, with 14,000 employees, 26 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 60 cities. To find out more about ABB in China, visit www.abb.com.cn.