The GE Power Grid Solutions unit of General Electric subsidiary GE Power this afternoon launched a slew of new products and services it claims will help influence the future grid.
Speaking on a conference call from the French International Conference on large Electric Systems (CIGRE) 2018, being held in Paris, Raj Iyer – the company's HVDC and Facts Leader – told pv magazine the eLumina HVDC Control System embodied the company's triple pronged approach to project development.
During a launch presentation of the company's new offering, Mr Iyer said the new products all aimed to address three issues: the switch from a “unilateral power sector to a multi directional power grid set-up”; the fact renewable energy has moved from an integration phase to penetration; and the digitization of the power sector.
“GE is looking at being able to orchestrate the future grid by co-ordinating [product] portfolios rather than discrete products,” said Mr. Iyer. “HVDC, Fax [GE's new gas insulated switchgear] and digital solutions and control systems all go together.”
It was a view echoed by GE Power Regional General Manager for Grid Solutions, Gerhard Seryling, who added: “The digital solutions that we have allow to facilitate the integration of all type of energy production. We see no opposition between decentralized and centralized [power generation].”
In a press release issued to mark the new product launch, GE Power Grid Solutions describes the eLumina system as the: “first HVDC solution to implement a world-class digital measurement system fully based on IEC 61850. ELumina delivers a 50 per cent smaller footprint and 80 per cent reduction in field connections that simplifies system architectures, improving maintenance and operational efficiency.
“With 10 times more computing power, eLumina brings more data to operators, to enable actionable intelligence through improved analytics and situational awareness. This new powerful platform is designed around a ‘single-source-of-truth' system model, enabling a more scalable, flexible, interoperable and adaptive HVDC solution.”
The biennial Paris conference was also used to showcase the company's F35 Gas Insulated Switchgear, which the manufacturer claims will have a dramatic impact on energy transmission, particularly for offshore wind.
The launch press release states: “By 2050, 66 per cent of the world’s population will be living in urban communities, requiring more power in compact areas. Simultaneously, offshore wind is predicted to reach a cumulative capacity of 115 GW by 2030, and these wind farms are moving into deeper waters that require larger turbines with higher power ratings. To address these shifts, GE Power’s Grid Solutions business has launched a new compact F35 Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS) for 72.5 kV networks. With a bay volume reduced by 23 per cent and a 30 per cent reduction in SF6 mass, this new GIS delivers reliable power to urban, industrial and wind farm applications. For wind turbines and collection platforms specifically, this enhanced design allows the power voltage transformer to feed auxiliaries under ‘no wind' conditions, making it the ideal interface for offshore wind applications.”
On the digital side of development, the grid solutions company also took the opportunity to advertise innovations including its ‘digital twin' for power transformers; intelligent digital substations; asset lifecycle management services – which switch from reactive to predictive maintenance – and advanced EMS with full WAMS enhancement.
The CIGRE conference opened yesterday and runs until Friday and the GE Power Grid Solutions booth can be found at stand #330, on the third floor of the Palais des Congrès.
