ABB, the wind industry's leading technology solutions provider, will showcase a wide range of innovative products, systems, service and software solutions for the wind industry at AWEA WINDPOWER 2017, including the ABB Ability^TM digital portfolio. These tailored digital solutions span the breadth from individual devices to solutions and services for the wind and renewables markets.

ABB will demonstrate how new wind generation technologies beyond the turbine - including maintenance, controls systems, analytics and substations - can improve reliability and decision making.

"ABB has partnered with AWEA for many years now in building the wind industry in the United States to the force that it is today, and we're pleased to again play a big role in this important industry gathering," said Alfredo Parres, ABB global manager of wind and renewable energies. "This year we're demonstrating for wind developers and operators what is now possible with proven new digital and analytics-based technologies for making operational decisions that ensure bankability, accurate forecasts and reliable grid connections." 

ABB will have experts in the booth to showcase a digital array of new technologies around the total wind solution and grid interconnection. Featured technologies include:

Power Consulting - Long before the technology of a wind farm project takes shape, the concepts and strategies behind reliable, high performance wind power generation solutions can take place through an independent consulting team that helps wind farm operators determine factors such as best connection to grid options, grid optimization,  energy storage, T&D studies and best practices and modeling and software support.

ABB Ability software - ABB's enterprise software product group will showcase real-time network control, asset management and portfolio planning solutions. ABB cloud solutions provide market intelligence and analytics for comprehensive investment decision support. Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solutions can provide increased asset utilization and productivity, as well as reduce operating costs. The Network Manager SCADA/GMS (generation management system) centralizes wind turbine management as a singular system to monitor, control and analyze the wind farm portfolio regardless of model or brand. Advanced diagnostic software and excellent engineering skills can also prevent expensive and dangerous incidents, thus avoiding repair costs, unplanned downtime and loss of revenues.

HVDC Light ®:  20 year milestone - ABB recently announced a further milestone in HVDC technology with its voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage direct current (HVDC) solution, called HVDC Light, to mark 20 years of this breakthrough transmission technology, pioneered by the company. HVDC Light is extensively being deployed for applications to integrate renewable energy sources, such as wind, to bring clean power to millions of people. The ABB Abilityâ„¢-based MACH control and protection system acts as the brain of systems like HVDC.

STATCOM technology - Static Synhronous Compensator (STATCOM) technology helps wind farms adhere to the new FERC Order 827 passed in 2016, which requires all newly interconnected non-synchronous generators such as wind farms to provide dynamic reactive power compensation at the high side of the generator substation as a condition of interconnection. ABB offers a variety of STATCOM solutions from the Low Voltage modular VArProâ„¢ STATCOM to the Medium Voltage SVC Lightâ„¢ STATCOM for larger wind farms.  This technology makes grid interconnection much smoother and reliable.

Environmentally friendly GIS Switchgear for Wind - ABB's arc-resistant medium voltage gas-insulated switchgear types ZX2 and ZX2.2 help customers maximize efficiency by minimizing footprint, delivery time, and maintenance requirements without jeopardizing safety, reliability, or quality. „Powering the world without consuming the earth" is part of the ABB vision, therefore 98 percent of ABB's Zx2 switchgear is recyclable. Gas-insulated switchgear with hermetically-sealed SF6 gas-filled compartments utilizes a closed lifecycle principle to keep gas out of the atmosphere.

EMAX 2 Low-Voltage Breaker - The embedded ATS EMAX 2 breaker features new ABB Ability digital capabilities, and offers ready-to-go programming with an estimated time/cost savings on ATS engineering of 95 percent; simplified connections with cables reduction up to 98 percent; and a compact, top-rated reliable solution.

Intelligent electrical drivetrain - ABB's electrical drivetrain internet connectivity will enable real-time asset monitoring and data analysis of the generator, converter and transformer. By using a converter data, digitalized interconnectivity facilitated by the IoT, operators can obtain a wide variety of new benefits by accessing information that is already available, such as fast fault notification, rapid response and analysis by ABB specialists and, most importantly, an opportunity to reduce unplanned downtime and the major costs associated with breakdowns. Digitalization will help increase turbine uptime and reduce costs, enabling optimized energy production and power quality with flexible and reliable grid interconnection.

ABB | www.abb.com