ABB vows to build a stronger, smarter and greener grid with all parties
The 2019 Global Energy Interconnection & China-Africa Energy and Power Conference was held in Beijing from November 6 to 7. As a global leader in power technology, ABB shared its latest global practice of power grids in a panel discussion and displayed cutting-edge and innovative technology in the event’s technology and equipment exhibition.
Hosted by Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), this conference attracted more than 1,000 speakers from government, international organization, enterprises and institutes of 79 countries, exchanging thoughts on two themes of “Global Energy Interconnection -- A Road of Green, Low-carbon and Sustainable Development" and “African Energy Interconnection -- New Growth Driver of Africa”.
“ABB has become a council member since the establishment of GEIDCO. The advocated concept of the organization is highly recognized by ABB, which elaborates global energy interconnection as ‘a clean energy-dominant, electric-centric modern energy system that is globally interconnected, jointly constructed and mutually beneficial to all’,” said Zhang Jinquan, Senior Vice President of ABB Group and Head of Greater China Region, Power Grids business. “With leading technology and rich experiences, ABB is willing to work with partners around the world to build a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”
- Stronger grid: ABB's innovative and reliable solutions help customers transport electricity over long distances with high capacity, efficiency and low electrical losses. For example, ABB pioneered commercial high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology more than 60 years ago and ultra HVDC (UHVDC) will further optimize electricity transmission with greater power and efficiency. Currently, ABB has participated in more than 120 HVDC projects worldwide and in China, the projects number has reached to over 30. ABB has successfully developed and tested the 1000kV UHVDC converter transformer in China, the highest voltage rating in the world, which maintained its leading position in UHVDC transmission.
- Smarter grid: Power grids are becoming increasingly complex driving greater digitalization and automation. ABB Ability™ based solutions combine the latest electrical equipment with digital sensors, cloud computing and software based solutions to facilitate the convergence of operational and information technologies, bringing more intelligence to the grid and making it more flexible, reliable and efficient. In the conference, the ABB Ability™ Ellipse® Asset Performance Management (APM) solution was displayed to Chinese and African audiences. The software solution is designed to provide health and performance evaluation with real-time data to prevent critical asset failures while optimizing asset lifecycle costs. ABB has provided the solution to State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid and Inner Mongolia Power Group for optimizing operation.
- Greener grid: ABB's innovative technology enables the integration of ever-increasing renewable resources to the grid, making a substantial contribution to their competitiveness and to the evolution of the power systems. ABB also enables the electrification of industries, transportation systems and infrastructures with grid integration solutions to render them more sustainable. In the annual conference, ABB brought pioneering technologies in renewable energy integration, energy storage and integration of distributed power resources, showing the ability of building a clean, low carbon, safe and efficient future energy system.
The conference also focused on the sustainable development in Africa and promoted opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. With leading technologies and a business network around the world, ABB actively supported China’s Belt and Road initiative. In 2018, ABB Power Grids business has participated more than 200 utility and infrastructure projects in more than 40 African countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.
Jochen Kreusel, Senior Vice President of ABB Group and Market Innovation Manager of Power Grids business, shared ABB’s practical project examples in Africa regarding HVDC interconnectors and distributed energy systems (microgrids) and introduced the importance of interconnection and digitalization for the accommodation of high shares of renewable energy.
Established in March 2016, GEIDCO is a non-profit international organization voluntarily joined by related companies, organizations, institutions and individuals, and dedicated to promoting sustainable development of energy in the world. It is also the first international energy organization initiated by China. The purpose of GEIDCO is to promote the establishment of a Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) system, to meet global power demand with clean and green alternatives. So far, it has 756 members from 106 countries and regions, covering energy, power, information, finance, technology, environmental protection and other fields.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a technology leader that is driving the digital transformation of industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB has four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by the ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, with near 20,000 employees located in more than 130 cities, 44 local companies, and online and offline channels across around 700 cities. www.abb.com
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