ABB launches world’s first excitation product compliant with new European Grid Code

ABB is delivering innovative excitation solutions that ensure early compliance with new European regulations and will bring broader benefits, minimizing risk in connecting grid networks and supporting reliable and stable operations.

ABB’s UNITROL® 1000 series is the world’s first excitation product that is fully compliant with the new European grid code pioneered in Germany. Compliance of ABB UNITROL® 1000 devices to the German grid code (VDE-AR-N 4110 and VDE-AR-N 4120) has been validated by the TÜV NORD certification body.

The European grid codes are a set of rules that harmonize, integrate and improve efficiencies across the electricity market. They are a key system put in place to help the EU achieve its energy objectives and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing renewable energy share and energy savings. The regulations strengthen rules for connecting plants to grid networks, in response to an increasing number of distributed renewable assets, such as wind farms and photovoltaic plants, overloaded grids and integrated E-mobility.

“ABB has ensured timely compliance with these new grid codes to provide broader benefits for our customers, helping minimize risk in connecting grid networks,” said Kevin Kosisko, Managing Director, Energy Industries.

“Even the most stable networks are introducing grid codes to keep their systems reliable and to enhance overall network optimization. We expect grid codes around the world will increase even further in the future, and we will continue investing in advanced technologies and standards for optimal industry compliance.”

Excitation systems are a key component in many power generating units used by plant owners and operators to achieve reliability with operations, stability and fast transient response of their assets, as per grid requirements.

Compliance to the German grid code and to the latest ENTSO-E¹ regulations can be achieved also by 20,000+ UNITROL® 1000 customers around the world, by means of a new generation of dedicated software with supporting functions which, once installed, support existing assets complying with the new standards.

For ABB customers, full compliance with the latest European grid code requirements will enable holding a certification that remains valid – even if there are updates to excitation system firmware. Customers will also receive access to a state-of-the-art simulation model available to easily integrate in generator control models. Such an integration may simplify and accelerate full generator set certification.

To better serve customers in preparing for these wider industry changes, ABB is also strengthening its consulting packages. ABB has enhanced detailed grid code compliance studies – including modeling of power plant major components – to help operators provide necessary simulations reports and performance evaluations for national Transmission System Operators (TSOs). This, in turn, supports allowances to connect to national grids.

ABB Energy Industries ABB is writing the future of safe and smart operations for industry, with ABB Ability™ delivering integrated and secure digital solutions that deliver value for customers with increasing autonomy, sustainability and optimized performance. ABB Energy Industries brings deep domain knowledge and technical expertise in energy and water, oil and gas, specialty chemicals and primary pharmaceutical industries. Building on our heritage, a spirit of collaboration and innovation inspires our digital leadership as we engineer and provide products, services and solutions that support our partners for success, both today and tomorrow as we look ahead to a new energy future.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-​focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s market leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com

[1] European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity.