Siemens has been awarded a contract by New Jersey-based Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., for the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, testing and commissioning of an indoor 230-kV, 4000-A, 80-kA gas-insulated substation (GIS) and associated gas-insulated bus (GIB). The GIS is an expansion of the existing Bergen switching station located in Ridgefield, New Jersey. The new infrastructure will help provide additional load capability and enhanced system reliability all in a small footprint. Commissioning of the substation is scheduled in stages beginning at the end of 2012 through April 2013.

"Siemens is pleased to partner with PSE&G on increasing transmission reliability to its customers in New Jersey," said Frank Petraglia, Vice President and General Manager of the High-voltage Substations business of Siemens Energy, Inc. "The compact design of the substation, coupled with minimal maintenance requirements, ensures a long service life for PSE&G." PSE&G previously contracted with Siemens for three 550-kV gas-insulated substations, one of which will begin operation in 2012.

The Siemens scope of supply includes the design, engineering, installation, testing and commissioning of the GIS and associated control and protection buildings, as well as the GIS breakers in a breaker-and-a-half arrangement. The GIS technology allows construction of a substation in a significantly reduced space compared to conventional air-insulated substations (AIS). GIS is also considered a more reliable solution with very limited maintenance and less sensitivity to potential external environmental factors. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art gas density monitoring system in order to continuously monitor SF6 density. The system's partial discharge sensors also predict potential partial discharge in the system, alerting the utility in advance of an irregularity that might trigger a maintenance operation.