Linxon will supply a 380-kilovolt (kV) Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation for the German transmission system operator TransnetBW in the town of Bühl, southwestern Germany.
Upgrading and strengthening the ‘Badische Rheinschiene’ power link in the Rhine valley will give TransnetBW a stable grid to transmit electricity generated by northern windfarms to consumers in the south, while nuclear and coal power plants are being put out of service. It also supports stronger grid interconnections between Germany and other countries, such as France and Switzerland.
For this project, Linxon will design, supply, install and commission a 380 kV GIS substation to replace an existing 220 kV substation, which it will dismantle as part of the contract once the new GIS equipment has been put into operation. The upgrade includes 4 new GIS bays, double-busbar, control and protection systems, substation automation, measurement and telecommunication systems, new auxiliary supplies, 2 x 20 kV compact stations, a 110 kV cable connection between 380/110 kV transformers and an existing 110 kV substation as well as all buildings, infrastructure and roads.
The new installation will be equipped with Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) technology that offers outstanding reliability and can be safely operated in confined spaces. The ELK-3 GIS supplies reliable power up to a rated voltage of 420 kV. Using a high-performance design with standardized dimensions, the ELK-3 GIS is ideal for optimal substation layout with reduced footprint and exceptional operation.