Hitachi Energy will provide to Grupo Energía Bogotá, the 28 500kV shunt reactors for an ambitious renewable energy transmission project

Hitachi Energy has announced that they will support Transmisión del Grupo Energía Bogotá (GEB) in the design, manufacture, transportation, installation advice, training and delivery of the single-phase line reactors of 500kV and neutral, for an ambitious renewable energy transmission project in the north of the country.

The GEB project "Subestación Colectora 500 kV y Líneas de Transmisión Colectora – Cuestecitas y Cuestecitas – La Loma 500 kV", is one of the key diversification projects of the energy matrix in Colombia. It will allow transporting the energy that will be generated in the new wind power plants in the department of La Guajira to be delivered to the Interconnected National System (SIN).

“This project, in addition to promoting the transition from an energy system based on fossil fuels to one based on non-conventional renewable sources, will facilitate a highly reliable electricity supply. Specifically, the Colectora project seeks to connect seven wind farms to the SIN with a capacity of 1,050 MW (with this energy we could meet about 10% of the country's electricity demand)”, said Diego Efraín García, GEB project manager.

Taking into account that the project covers the highest energy voltage level in Colombia (the backbone of the transmission system is 500 kilovolts), Hitachi Energy made all its knowledge, experience and leadership available to GEB worldwide in inductive equipment for the manufacture, supply and supervision of the commissioning of 28 power reactors, which will be installed in each of the three substations associated with the project (Colectora, Cuestecitas and La Loma).

Shunt reactors are equipment that allows increasing energy efficiency in power systems, by compensating reactive power in long transmission lines, allowing control of the voltage level. These will be installed at the beginning and at the end of each of the transmission lines.

“We are very proud to be part of this project with Grupo Energía Bogotá, because this is a benchmark for the diversification of the country's energy matrix. In addition, the two companies will help Colombia move towards a carbon neutral”, said Ramón Monrás, president of Hitachi Energy for Latin America. "The pioneering technologies of Hitachi Energy and our global experience will serve Colombia in the safe and efficient integration of renewable energies of all kinds, in transmission networks", he concluded.

The Colectora project will include a distance of 475 kilometers of transmission lines divided into two sections: Colectora-Cuestecitas, 114 kilometers long and where the Colectora and Cuestecitas substations (both with a capacity of 500 kilowatts), and Cuestecitas-La Loma, will be located. It will have a 247-kilometer double-circuit line where the La Loma substation (capacity of 500 kilowatts) is located.

The beneficiaries will be all the users of the Interconnected National System (SIN), since the project will help to maintain the voltage within the appropriate limits so that the users do not suffer power fluctuations, guaranteeing continuity and greater reliability in the provision of the service.

Considering the fact that La Guajira is one of the mainstays for the development of renewable energy projects in the country, Diego Mesa, minister of Mines and Energy, declared that there are 14 renewable projects whose execution not only contributes to the reduction of pollution and the fight against climate change, but also the economic reactivation of the region and the country.

Hitachi Energy and Grupo Energía Bogotá has been working hard to carry out this type of renewable energy projects, in order to promote and encourage the diversification of the country's energy matrix.