General Electric, TransnetBW sign contract to redesign Pulverdingen 380 kV

GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business and the transmission system operator TransnetBW have signed a contract for a turnkey solution to redesign the Pulverdingen 380 kV substation in the vicinity of Markgroningen, about 15 km northwest of Stuttgart. The Pulverdingen substation needs to be redesigned for larger capacities and greater power fluctuations. As part of this redesign, the substation’s almost 50-year-old switchgear, will be upgraded and expanded during operation. To support TransnetBW’s priorities to ramp up capacity, GE‘s Grid Solutions team will design, produce, supply and commission 26 bays of 380 kV air-insulated switchgear with associated buildings and control cabinets. Also in the plan is a 380 kV cable connection between the 380 kV/220 kV transformer and respective 380 kV switch panel. The overhead line connection to the substation will be executed in three phases. The erection of temporary overhead lines for several years is required in some cases to ensure safe operation of the switchgear during the construction period. The construction work is expected to take one decade, until the end of 2033. This contract for a turnkey solution aligns with GE’s commitment to provide scalable power solutions to its customers that support the transformation of their electricity grids. The upgrade and expansion of the Pulverdingen substation will significantly improve short-circuit resistance, transmission capacity and voltage control.