ABB’s new technologies are making it easier than ever before to deliver electrical power to offshore installations, lowering operating costs and reducing environmental impact at the same time.
The article explains how ABB’s HVDC Light and Motorformer technologies can supply electrical power from the on‑shore grid to the Troll A offshore gas production platform, replacing traditional gas‑turbine driven compressors. By transmitting power via subsea HVDC cables, the solution reduces fuel consumption, CO₂ and NOₓ emissions, and lowers operating costs.
Technical details cover the HVDC Light converter topology, the 132‑kV switchboard, variable‑speed synchronous machines operating up to 56 kV and 63 Hz, and the Motorformer motor with XLPE‑insulated cable windings. Design considerations such as cable armoring (80 kV rating), compactness, and environmental robustness are also discussed.
| Switchboard voltage | 132 kV |
|---|---|
| Motor maximum voltage | 56 kV |
| Motor operating frequency | 63 Hz |
| Cable rating | 80 kV |
| Bus voltage for Motorformer | 42 kV |
HVDC Light enables power transmission from shore with high efficiency, eliminating the need for low‑efficiency offshore gas‑turbine compressors and reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.