In the world of renewable energy, every second counts. When outages strike or key equipment fails, it can take months or even years to replace traditional power transformers, halting energy production and putting pressure on the grid. Recognizing the need for fast, reliable solutions, Avangrid, a member of the Iberdrola Group, has taken a major step to ensure the continuous flow of clean energy across its U.S. wind and solar operations.
Avangrid is using mobile transformers, however, rather than being parked and taking up valuable footprint at one of its facilities, the mobile transformer remains securely housed at a Hitachi Energy facility. When the need arises, the vendor will manage the transportation and logistics of delivering the mobile transformer to the affected site and immediately begin its connection to the grid, offering a seamless turnkey service that ensures the contingency transformer is ready to be deployed wherever needed.
Strategic Approach
This strategic approach enables Avangrid to focus on what it does best — generating clean, renewable energy — while the vendor provides the crucial infrastructure support. When a transformer outage occurs, rather than rushing to find and transport replacement equipment, Avangrid can call it in. In response, the company’s service experts spring into action, orchestrating the movement of the mobile transformer from the Crystal Springs, Mississippi, facility to the necessary location, managing the logistics every step of the way.
"This mobile transformer is an exciting new addition to our tool kit,” said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra, highlighting the importance of this relationship. “The service provided by Hitachi Energy means we can deploy it wherever and whenever it’s needed without delay. This collaboration is vital for driving innovation and continuous improvement within our clean energy fleet, making it more resilient and reliable.”
In an era where climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, this partnership is especially valuable. Hurricanes, winter storms and other natural disasters can knock out essential equipment, but with the mobile transformer, Avangrid can quickly restart power generation at its renewable energy sites, minimizing downtime and ensuring clean, emissions-free energy continues to reach the grid.
This ability to recover rapidly after a major event is vital as Avangrid expands its renewable energy portfolio across the U.S. This approach also can be valuable in more mundane situations, such as an extended, planned outage for maintenance or an upgrade.
Custom Engineered
Custom engineered by Hitachi Energy for Avangrid, the mobile transformer is designed for rapid deployment and features multi-voltage capabilities, the transformer can be installed within a matter of weeks — a steep reduction compared to the typical lead time for replacement power transformers, which can take more than two years. Once Avangrid notifies the company of the need, the transformer is quickly configured to the correct voltage and transported to any of the utility’s onshore wind or solar sites to bring power back online while more permanent solutions are pursued.
With 168-MVA capacity, the mobile transformer is built to be compact and durable, making it ideal for rapid transport and installation. The logistics team is well-versed in coordinating the movement of this highly specialized equipment. Using specialized semitrucks and trailers, the transformer is hauled across highways and back roads, navigating any terrain necessary to reach Avangrid’s facilities. The transformer’s low-profile, lightweight design and ability to withstand higher G-forces enables it to endure the rigors of travel, from sharp turns to steep inclines, ensuring it arrives in good condition and ready to be installed.
The mobile transformer’s unique design, which features Hitachi Energy’s shell-type technology, enhances its reliability and durability. This configuration of the transformer’s active components allows for an ultra-compact solution, making it easier to transport, while also ensuring it can handle the demands of a variety of energy environments. It also is built for versatility, capable of being deployed at any of Avangrid’s facilities, whether wind or solar, and no matter the site’s installed capacity, ensuring that wherever energy generation needs to be restored, the mobile transformer is up to the task.
The solution covers all typical voltage levels used in U.S. renewables, connecting the standard 34.5-kV internal grid of a wind or solar park to the transmission voltages of 345 kV, 230 kV, 161 kV, 138 kV, 115 and 69 kV. In addition, it provides tertiary voltages to adapt to the local auxiliary voltage. In addition to the transformer’s unique adaptability, this is an end-to-end solution that achieves the lightest weight and reduced dimensions to ease transportation, minimizes site installation and assembly risks, and is versatile to adapt to the existing substations’ layouts and protection schemes.
Ready For Action
What makes this service particularly valuable to Avangrid is the peace of mind that comes with it. Knowing that the service provider handles the storage, transportation and logistics means Avangrid does not have to undertake the complexities of planning, securing permits or dealing with the challenge of moving large industrial equipment across the U.S. Instead, the service provider’s expert team takes care of everything, from coordinating with local authorities to navigating difficult terrains, ensuring the transformer arrives at the site as quickly as possible. This level of service allows Avangrid to maintain focus on operating its wind and solar farms, confident that when outages do occur, they can be addressed swiftly and efficiently.
Senior Vice President and Head of Hitachi Energy’s transformer business in North America, Steve McKinney emphasized the importance of this collaboration. “The clean energy transition depends on innovative solutions and strong partnerships,” he noted. “By working closely with Avangrid, we’ve created a service that ensures their operations are resilient, even in the face of transformer failures or equipment damage. We manage the logistics, so they don’t have to. It’s a service that reduces downtime and helps keep clean energy flowing to where it’s needed the most.”
Hitachi Energy’s service to Avangrid extends beyond transportation. Once the mobile transformer arrives at its destination, the transformer services team supports installation and commissioning, ensuring it is up and running as quickly as possible. This hands-on support is critical in an industry facing longer-than-usual lead times for new equipment. With supply chain delays becoming more common, having a transformer that can be deployed rapidly is essential to minimizing disruptions to energy transmission and distribution.
Mobile Solutions
Looking to the future, the relationship between Avangrid and Hitachi Energy signals a broader trend in the clean energy industry: the increasing need for flexible, mobile solutions that can be deployed rapidly in the face of unforeseen events. By keeping the mobile transformer action ready at the service provider’s facility and relying on that team’s logistical expertise, Avangrid can ensure its ability to respond to outages without the burden of handling the complex transportation process themselves.
As more renewable energy projects come online and the demand for clean energy continues to grow, services like this will play a key role in maintaining grid reliability. For Avangrid, this mobile transformer is not just a piece of equipment; it is a strategic asset, made more valuable by the full-service agreement with Hitachi Energy.
As clean energy infrastructure becomes increasingly critical to the country’s energy future, collaborations like this will ensure, no matter the challenges, the power generated by wind and solar farms will keep flowing. Avangrid is free to focus on its mission of working together to deliver a more accessible clean energy model that promotes healthier, more sustainable communities every day.
