Shanghai is backdrop to high level talks on curbing power outages
Shanghai, China, October 18, 2004 - Building on its recent work to fight power outages in the U.S. and Europe, ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today outlined a targeted set of technologies that can prevent power outages and ensure "power grid reliability" in China.
"China is growing at an incredible pace, which is putting an enormous strain on the country’s power infrastructure,"said Peter Leupp, Chairman and President, ABB in China. "The central government has stepped up its plans to combat power outages and improve the stability of its power networks. We are pleased to bring our best technologies to China, both through locally manufactured products and systems, and via our international network of research centers, factories and teams of technology experts."
When a major power system fails, as they have done in North America, Europe and Asia in recent times, we see electricity for what it is – the glue that binds our world together, lighting homes and cities, powering workplaces, schools and hospitals.
ABB unveiled a remarkable set of power technologies – from high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems for reliably transmitting power across regions, to an array of flexible AC transmission devices (FACTS) which can increase both power and stability on existing power lines, while improving system reliability – on the first day of the weeklong Conference on Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) conference. The ABB team billed its presentation as "Grid reliability – pioneered by ABB."
ABB also presented advanced software that enables power trading, as well as solutions for power plant control. The need for such high-end technology in China is underscored by the recent decision of the Chinese government to approve the construction of 144 new power plants. ABB is the world leader in energizing power plants – and will demonstrate at CEPSI highlights from its portfolio, for example, generator circuit breakers and high-voltage transformers. Products and systems for power distribution will also be shown.
Leupp said ABB has been in the power business since the late 1800s and is the clear number one in terms of size. "In some of our businesses we are double the size of our nearest competitor," he said. "With that leadership position comes great responsibility – to transfer the best technologies to countries like China and to advance existing technologies at a faster rate than the competition."
To drive home his point, Leupp said ABB has already won around $1.3 billion in orders to supply the Three Gorges project with transformers, gas-insulated switchgear, automation controls systems, and three high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links between the Three Gorges dam and power-hungry regions in eastern China.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering their environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 105,000 people. ABB in China (www.abb.com.cn) employs around 7,000 people in 27 companies and sales offices in 30 major cities.