Code Alerts! Sign-up to receive email alerts on important electric code changes.

Areva T&D has been awarded an order worth approximately $400 million for a 600 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) bipole from IE Madeira for the world’s longest power transmission line, with a total length of 2,375 kilometers. The bipole and its two converter stations will transform alternating current (ac) to direct current (dc) with the capacity to transfer 3,150 MW from the Porto Velho (Rondonia) collector substation in the Amazon region to the Araraquara II substation in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where it will be converted back to ac.

The Madeira hydro complex in the Amazon region is composed of two hydroelectric power plants, Santo Antonio and Jirau, with a total power capacity of 6,300 MW. The energy will be transmitted through two HVDC bipoles from the northwest to the southeast of Brazil, allowing the integration to the SIN (National Interconnected System) and the utilization of the energy throughout Brazil.

Areva T&D’s contract includes all the equipment, engineering, erection supervision, pre-commissioning, and commissioning for the convertor stations, which will be delivered for commercial operation in April 2013.

“This new contract reinforces Areva T&D’s position as a market leader in the global HVDC segment. It follows an earlier contract for a 500 kV HVDC interconnection between the Uruguayan and Brazilian networks, and various other HVDC projects completed or underway worldwide. Our local and international teams are fully committed to the further development of Brazil’s electricity network and are proud to be selected for this significant project,” said Philippe Guillemot, chairman and CEO of Areva T&D.