ABB has been awarded a $24 million contract by National Grid for a 400-kV substation that will provide the grid connection for a new power station in the north-west of England.

The Carrington Power project is a CCGT (combined cycle gas turbine) plant located on the site of a former coal-fired power station near the city of Manchester. ESB International of Ireland is the majority shareholder in the project. The new station, comprising two 430-MW generator modules, is expected to be completed by 2013 and to produce enough power to meet the needs of around one million households.

ABB’s contract includes the supply of five bays of GIS (gas insulated switchgear) and associated systems. The switchgear will be housed in a dedicated building elevated by around 1.7 meters to ensure continued operation in the event of a flood. Future expansion by an additional seven bays of GIS equipment has also been allowed for.

“ABB’s GIS solution, with its compact footprint, is ideal for such applications,” said Claudio Facchin, global head of ABB’s substation business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. “We are pleased to support National Grid’s efforts to strengthen the reliability of the grid.”