ABB has won a $28-million order from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), for a 400-kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) substation to strengthen the power transmission network in the country’s western grid. The substation will be located in Navsari, in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

As part of the project scope, ABB will be responsible for the system design and engineering, civil works, supply, installation and commissioning. Major products included in the order are 400-kV and 220-kV gas insulated switchgear, transformers as well as control and relay panels. The project is scheduled for completion in 2011. 



“GIS offers a compact footprint which makes it flexible and ideal for densely populated and urban areas, where space is at a premium” said Claudio Facchin, global head of ABB’s substation business, within the company’s Power Systems division. “The substation will strengthen the transmission grid and help improve reliability and quality of electricity supply, serving the growing needs of industrial and residential consumers.”

The standardized bay construction and compact design enhances the efficiency of the switchgear, simplifies maintenance and speeds up project execution. By reducing the number and weight of components, the dimension of the bay and carrying capacity of the building foundations can be substantially reduced.

PGCIL is India’s central power transmission utility, and is presently implementing an ambitious program of grid expansion and modernization aimed at integrating an additional 37,000 MW (megawatts) of power to facilitate inter-regional transmission of electricity across the country.