The order was placed by Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) and Kenya Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. (KETRACO). The total value of the project, which is financed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, is approximately US$450 million. The interconnection is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2018.
"The transmission link is one of the largest infrastructure projects in East Africa and is what makes it possible to expand energy networks from Kenya to neighboring countries like Uganda and Tanzania, a development that is urgently needed. With this link, we are proud to be able to help provide a secure energy supply to East Africa," said Jan Mrosik, CEO of Siemens' energy management division.
The bipolar system has a capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) and will connect the two converter stations located in Kenya and Ethiopia with a +/- kilovolt direct current (KDC) power line. Siemens is supplying the core components for the transmission technology, such as converter valves with light-driven power thyristors, converter transformers, flattening reactors, and protection and control equipment. Isolux is responsible for the construction, installation, and equipment of the converter and AC substations.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is a solution for the low-loss transport of large amounts of electrical energy over long distances. For transmission links exceeding 600 kilometers, power line connections using HVDC technology are more efficient than AC transmission systems. With cable connections, the efficiency limit is around 80 kilometers. Compared to a comparable AC transmission link, such a link has significantly lower transmission losses. Furthermore, with the same trench width, this link can typically transmit 30–40% more power than an AC trench. HVDC interconnections can also limit the propagation of faults between connected AC networks, thus preventing power outages. Siemens is a leading global provider of innovative systems and solutions for high-voltage direct current transmission.
