Next major milestone to start shortly on HVDC

Next major milestone to start shortly on HVDC inter-island link project

Transpower said today that the start of the next major milestone on the Pole 3 HVDC project will begin in mid April when construction of the critical electrical systems and buildings, needed to increase the capacity of the link, gets underway.

Civil and seismic strengthening work including piling and earthworks, started in January and is now nearly complete.

The Pole 3 HVDC project, worth up to $672 million, will increase the capacity of the HVDC link to 1000 MW in 2012 and 1200 MW in 2014. The project consists of building new converter stations at Benmore and Haywards substations, using modern thyristor technology, to replace the 44-year old Pole 1 equipment, which will be fully decommissioned in late 2011.

Transpower’s General Manager Grid Projects Mike Carter said that the Pole 3 project is a major part of a wider investment plan to reinforce the grid. The link is critical for enabling renewable generation to supply the north island and for supporting the south island demand in dry years.

“This next phase of work will involve the construction of the new converter stations at each end of the link, expanding the 220 kV switchyards at both substations and building the new voltage support equipment at Haywards substation,” he said.

“Although the majority of the work will be largely confined to the existing Haywards and Benmore substation sites, there will be an increase of activity into, and out of, the substation sites while the work is underway,” said Mike Carter.

“Motorists should be aware of the increased number of large trucks entering, and exiting the Haywards substation on SH58. From mid-April, the speed limit on Haywards Hill will be lowered from 100 km/h to 80 km/h during working hours for the duration of the project”.

“We have worked closely with the local residents around our construction plans, and will continue to keep residents and the local community informed of our construction activity,” he said.

Further information on the project, including photos and updates, is available at www.gridnewzealand.co.nz .

ENDS

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