Siemens to deliver two HVDC stations for electricity interconnector between Germany and Belgium

Siemens has won a €273 contract to deliver two high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) converter stations for the first electricity interconnector between Germany and Belgium, cleantechnology-business-review.com reported.

The German transmission system operator (TSO) Amprion and the Belgian TSO Elia have come together to deliver the Aachen Liège Electricity Grid Overlay (ALEGrO), an infrastructure project which is part of the European electricity highway system.

The interconnector will use 90km long underground cables to link the Belgian and German high-voltage electricity systems.

The converter stations will transform AC to DC and DC back to AC on the other side of the link. It is expectd to start commercial operation in 2020.

Siemens will design, supply, install and commission all the components required for the project.

The company said that it will use HVDC Plus, a highly controllable technology with operational advantages. The project will deliver 1000MW of electricity either between Germany or Belgium and have high degree of controllability, as claimed by the German engineering company.

Amprion managing director Klaus Kleinekorte said: “ALEGrO will make the European electricity network even more secure and powerful.

“We can control the power flow of the cable with a high degree of accuracy and adjust the volume of electricity and flow direction.”

Elia Infrastructure chief officer Markus Berger said: “Inteconnections based on innovative convertor technology will allow bottlenecks in the European transmission network to be gradually decreased.

“Allowing for more flow exchanges will improve the working of the market and should lead to lower energy prices.”

Siemens Energy Management Division CEO Ralf Christian said: “ALEGrO will feature state-of-the-art converter technology. The HVDC Plus solution from Siemens assures highest reliability and efficiency in transmitting power independent from specific weather or grid conditions.


The author: Michel DEURINCK

Michel Deurinck, born in Brussels in 1950, started his career in the Belgian civil service, dedicating over 30 years to public service. Upon retirement, he pursued his passion for journalism. Transitioning into this new field, he quickly gained recognition for his insightful reporting on politics and culture. Deurinck's balanced and thoughtful approach to journalism has made him a respected figure in Belgian media.

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