HV transmission

Switchgear installations and transformer substations

Power system management

Electrical system studies

Pipeline networks

HV Transmission

Oradea-Bekescsaba 400 kV HV transmission line and Nadab Substation, Romania

For construction of the 400 kV transmission line from Oradea, Romania, to Bekescsaba, Hungary, that runs for 93 km through Romanian territory, and of the new 400 kV Nadab Substation along this route, Fichtner rendered services of tender engineering, drawing up tender documents, bid evaluation and site supervision.

Integrated information system for an HV network and market operator, Greece

To properly fill its central role in a liberalized electricity market, the Hellenic Transmission System Operator (HTSO) needs an integrated and enterprise-wide information system. Fichtner and its partners were awarded a contract by HTSO to draw up the system specifications, following a thorough analysis of the present status. Then the tender documents were compiled and system suppliers selected. In a follow-up phase, our experts assisted HTSO in realizing and commissioning the various systems.

Tie-in of Rusumo Falls Hydropower Plant to the grids of Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania

To tie in the new 61.5 MW hydropower plant at the Kagera River on the Rwanda-Tanzania border into the surrounding HV grids, three 110/220 kV transmission lines were to be constructed from the power plant: one 200 km long to Gitega grid substation in Burundi, one 100 km long to Biharamulo transformer substation in Tanzania, and one of 150 km to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. Following the conceptual study for which, in addition to alternative routes, economic and financial as well as social and ecological aspects were investigated, Fichtner prepared the feasibility study. This considered, among others, an electrification study, cost compilation, risk analysis and implementation plan. Detail planning, with on-site collection of topographic and geotechnical data, and the tender documents based on this were prepared for the HV transmission lines and substations.

Electrification of the summit of Karisimbi Volcano, Rwanda

Karisimbi Volcano in Northwest Rwanda is the perfect site for radio and television transmitters, telephone links and air traffic control systems. To provide a secure power supply to the antenna at 4507 m amsl, Fichtner was awarded a contract to prepare pre-project and detailed studies as well as draw up tender documents. For this project, during field investigations of the nature of an expedition over several days, the required electrical, topographic, geological and environmental data were collected.

New 400 kV transmission line from Iringa to Shinyanga, Tanzania

In view of the rising demand for electricity in northern Tanzania, parallel to the existing 220 kV line, a new 650 km 400 kV HV transmission line is being constructed from Iringa to Shinyanga to strengthen the grid. This is constructed as a double-circuit line but first only strung with a single conductor circuit.  New 400 kV substations are installed at Iringa, Dodoma, Singida and Shinyanga, and the existing 220 kV substations extended by new HV switchbays. Within these substations, in the first expansion stage, a total of 1100 MW of new transformer capacity is installed. The state-owned electricity utility, Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd. (TANESCO), commissioned Fichtner with preliminary routing of the new transmission line, preparation of a full feasibility study, conceptual design, and drawing up technical bidding documents to a World Bank template. Fichtner also assists TANESCO in bid evaluation and contract negotiations.

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Overhaul and expansion of HV transmission system to Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo

With the aim of feeding 500 MW electrical power into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) interconnected network, the link from the Inga central power plant to the transfer point to Zambia is to be rehabilitated and reinforced. This involves rehabilitation of 1700 km of 500 kV HVDC and 320 km of 220 kV AC transmission lines, construction of 300 km of new 220 kV transmission lines and rebuilding 2 x 280 MW converter stations. Furthermore, a new telecommunications network 2100 km in length employing fiber optics technology is to be installed. Finally, a pilot project for nationwide electrification with direct infeed from the HV transmission line is to be realized. For all project components, Fichtner prepares planning, draws up specifications with invitations to bid, conducts international tendering, assists in contract negotiations, and renders site supervision services up to commissioning.

New construction and grid tie-in of Imboulou Hydropower Plant, Republic of the Congo

On behalf of the “Délégation Générale des Grands Travaux”, Fichtner is reviewing the existing pre-project planning and detailed plans of the Chinese consortium executing the project, and has been entrusted with shop acceptances and site supervision for constructing Imboulou 120 MW Hydropower Plant at the Lefini River. The scope of services includes supervision of commissioning and a check of as-built documentation. For tie-in of the power plant into the HV network, 1400 km of HV and MV transmission lines as well as eight HV transformer substations have to be constructed. For these, Fichtner is likewise reviewing pre-project planning and detailed plans, as well as undertaking shop acceptances and site supervision. Additionally, Fichtner is preparing the load flow and short circuit calculations as well as running network simulations for setting the protection equipment.

Thakek-Mahaxai-Xepon 115 kV transmission line, Laos

In Southeast Laos, Lane Xang Minerals Ltd. is operating a gold mine with on-site power generation. For additionally extracting copper, a reliable electricity supply is needed, to be ensured by connecting the mine to the national grid with a link to Thailand. This was realized by constructing a 165 km 115 kV transmission line to the mine in Xepon, where also a new substation was sited. Fichtner’s tasks covered construction management with commissioning and support in formulating the various contracts: electrical equipment supply contract, electricity supply contract with EGAT in Thailand, electricity transmission contract with the Laotian grid operator, and a maintenance contract with the local electricity supply utility.

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500 kV transmission line with Yangtze River crossing, People’s Republic of China

For expansion of the East Chinese 500 kV HV transmission grid, Fichtner assisted the client in engineering and tendering as well as bid evaluation, award of contracts for supplies and services, site supervision and project management. In addition to 1000 km of transmission lines and five 500/220 kV substations with a total transformation power of 4750 MVA, this expansion also involves crossing the Yangtze River with a 500 kV HV double-circuit line. At 346.5 m, the two suspension towers are the highest in the world. Other key technical data are: span 2300 m, weight of each tower 4000 t, and transmission cables of type AACSR-500 in bundles of four for transmission of 3400 MW.

400 kV DC transmission line, Australia

This project concerns construction of a 400 kV DC link between the Australian mainland and the island of Tasmania, for electricity supply in either direction. The principal section is a 295 km submarine cable connected at each end to overhead transmission line sections up to converter stations. Other transmission lines to existing 500 kV and 220 kV networks complete the hookup. Fichtner’s engineering services were rendered for the transmission lines and included investigations of design parameters and load assumptions for the DC transmission line to relevant Australian regulations, assistance in drawing up technical tender documents and bid evaluation, review of the contractor’s tower and foundation designs with structural analyses, inspections at manufacturers’ plants, and quality inspections of materials and manufacturing.

Guatemala-Mexico 400 kV Interconnection

With the aim of tying the six Central American countries Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama into the North American grid, a new 400 kV transmission line is being constructed for a distance of 75 km along the Pacific Coast from Guatemala to Mexico as a two-conductor system, with the first conductor implemented in the present construction phase. Fichtner was entrusted with review of planning and local site supervision, including commissioning and factory acceptances.

Plan approval and construction of the Southwest 380 kV Interconnector, Germany

The power network operator Vattenfall Europe Transmission GmbH is planning to construct a 210 km interconnector in the southwest of its supply territory to link its network with that of E.ON Netz GmbH. With the exception of a short section, the transmission line route, from near Halle in Saxony-Anhalt through Thuringia to the region of Schweinfurt in Bavaria, runs along a new corridor. Apart from line routing, Fichtner’s services include submitting applications for easements, conducting soil investigations and rendering electrical engineering services, as well as drawing up working and change-order documents for the entire transmission line.

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Switchgear Installations and Transformer Substations

Conversion and expansion of Krizovany 400 kV Substation, Slovak Republic

The retirement of Units 1 and 2 of Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant requires restructuring of the Slovakian HV grid, including conversion and expansion of Krizovany 400 kV Substation. On behalf of Slovenska Elektrizacna Prenosova Sustava A.S. (SEPS), Fichtner reviewed the planning documents and undertook tendering, bid evaluation and contract award. The final construction stage comprises 13 bays, with two 400/110/33 kV transformers each of 350 MVA. This project is financed by the Bohunice International Decommissioning Support Fund (BIDSF), administered by the EBRD.

Upgrading of Ribarevine 400/110/35 kV substation and construction of new Podgorica 5 110/10 kV substation, Montenegro

The rising electricity demand in northeast Montenegro required upgrading of Ribarevine 400 kV substation to a fully functional 400/110/35 kV substation. To enhance the reliability of electricity supply in Podgorica, construction of the new Podgorica 5 110/10 kV substation was necessary. Fichtner was awarded a contract to render technical support for planning, tendering, site supervision and commissioning of these two substations, including their connection by cable and/or high-voltage transmission lines.

Expansion of power distribution network in Qatar

The rising electricity demand in Qatar requires expansion and substantial strengthening of its power distribution network. This project, self-financed by the client, encompasses in Phase VI new construction and extension of around thirty-five substations at all voltage levels in Qatar: 220, 132, 66, 33, and 11 kV. During Phase VII, a further forty new substations are to be constructed and an extra high voltage level of 400 kV is to be introduced for tying in the dualpurpose seawater desalination and power plant in Messaeed. For these two expansion phases, Fichtner together with a consortial partner from the state-owned energy utility KAHRAMAA, was entrusted with the engineering services. These range from bid evaluation, through checking the planning documents, site supervision and commissioning of the facilities, up to support of the client during the warranty period.

400 kV switchyard for Jebel Ali Station M, United Arab Emirates

For the combined power generation and seawater desalination plant Jebel Ali Station M, Fichtner was commissioned by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority with the engineering of the 400 kV switchyard, the 400 kV double overhead line from Jebel Ali Station M to the new Al Aweer Station H and an additional 400 kV overhead line between Jebel Ali Station and the 400 kV switchyard in Najma. The project also includes optimization of the existing 400 kV corridor through multicircuit systems between the transformer stations in Najma, Station G, Station L and DREP Station as well as the tie-in of the new Station M. The scope of services rendered also includes the additional 400/132 kV Gardens transformer station and the associated 400 kV installations. For the entire project, Fichtner is preparing the grid tie-in study, the environmental impact assessment, the conceptual engineering and tender documents in addition to evaluating the bids and working out the contract award recommendation. Further services rendered include support with contract negotiations, checking and approval of drawings and construction supervision.

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Rehabilitation of 500, 220 and 110 kV substations in Georgia’s transmission system

For various rehabilitation projects financed by KfW for Zestafoni and Ksani 500/220/110 kV substations as well as the 500/330/220 kV substation at Gardabani Combined Heat and Power Plant near Tbilisi, for each Fichtner collected comprehensive site data, prepared conceptual engineering, drew up tender documents, evaluated bids and prepared a contract award recommendation. Other services were assistance during contract negotiations, check of drawings and applications for permits for the civil and electrical scopes, shop acceptances, coordination of interfaces to existing systems, and site supervision up to commissioning of the new facilities.

Feasibility Study for Reconstruction of the 500/220 kV switch yards at Nurek 3000 MW Hydro Power Plant, Tajikistan

The main task of Fichtner is to determine the technically and economically optimum solution for the replacement of the existing 500 kV and 220 kV switchyards of Nurek Hydro-Electric Power Plant and prepare feasibility study for that project in such detail and within such scope as required by the Asian Development Bank and by KfW for complete project appraisal including all relevant technical, geological, social, environmental, financial, economic and other aspects.

Expansion of 220 kV network in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This project involves construction of a 220/110/22 kV gas-insulated substation and its hookup to the electrical network by a 6.6 km 2x3 220 kV XLPE single-phase cable and a 3.4 km 220 kV double-circuit transmission line. Fichtner prepared detailed engineering, preparation of international tendering documents, bid evaluation and award of contract, check of drawings, project management, site supervision and commissioning.

Construction of 500 kV substation and expansion of 220 kV and 110 kV substations in Doc Soi, Vietnam

A new 500 kV transmission line from Danang via Doc Soi to Pleiku required expansion of the Doc Soi 220/110 kV substation to the additional 500 kV voltage level. This new 500 kV extension is connected by two 500/220 kV transformers, each 3 x 150 MVA, to the existing substation. Fichtner’s services comprised revision of planning documents, drawing up tender documents, bid evaluation, contract award, site supervision, commissioning and staff training.

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Power System Management

Renewal of KPLC’s SCADA/EMS system, Nairobi, Kenya

Within the framework of this project, Kenya Power and Lighting Co. Ltd. (KPLC) is to rehabilitate its entire network control and telecommunications system. The SCADA/EMS installations comprise a central national master station and four regional telecontrol centers with around eighty controlled stations. Telecommunication signals are transmitted via wireless, powerline carrier (PLC) and fiber optic cable. For this purpose, 1300 km of overhead ground wires are to be replaced by optical ground wires (OPGW). After completion of the feasibility study, acting in the capacity of Owner’s Engineer, Fichtner is to draw up the tender documents, handle the award of contracts to the suppliers and undertake project steering as well as site supervision up to final acceptance of the system.

Planning and equipping the national load distribution system, Iraq

For the national load dispatch center in Baghdad, Fichtner under contract to the United Nations Development Program undertook planning, drawing up tender documents, bid evaluation and contract award for the entire system. This dispatch center supervises and controls the higher level 400 kV network forming the backbone of the national transmission grid and monitors the three regional load dispatch centers for the 132 kV transmission grids with around 140 remote terminal units (RTUs). It is also responsible for supervising 132 kV substations at linking lines to neighboring countries. Apart from the center’s complete hardware and software, the scope of supply included new RTUs in the 540 substations of the 400 kV grid. The SCADA and Energy Management System (EMS) software supports economic deployment of power plants and reliable operation of transmission systems. Higher level software functions – like load-flow control – aid in maintaining voltage and frequency stability while safeguarding power plants and transmission lines against overloads. As the project proceeded, Fichtner was awarded additional contracts for supervising installation, commissioning and acceptance.

Feasibility study for national load dispatch center, Sri Lanka

The inadequacy of the existing, aging load dispatch center was described and a concept for a new facility, optimized under technical and economic aspects, including its financing, was worked out. The proposed control system for the countrywide power network encompasses the load dispatch center in Colombo, with hardware and software for SCADA, network security and energy management, as well as telecontrol technology and necessary modifications to 39 substations and power plants. Furthermore, 37 existing or projected substations equipped with station I&C systems are integrated into the network control system. The planned communication network consists essentially of a countrywide optical fiber backbone in STM-4 technology, linking the network control system to key power plants, substations and network operation centers.

Construction of new national load dispatch center in Katmandu, Nepal

For monitoring and control of the existing and planned future supply network (220 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV) with all major power plants and substations in Nepal, Fichtner engineered the national load distribution center, including the required telecontrol and telecommunications systems, based on optical ground wire (OPGW) technology. The system comprises 49 substations with around 7000 data points. Services covered all engineering phases, with feasibility study, conceptual study, drawing up technical specifications, bid evaluation, support during contract award, and project management with supervision of installation and commissioning, as well as support for operation of the new technology.

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Integration of electricity, gas, water and district heating in a network control center, Germany

Munich’s municipal utility made plans to integrate the mains-borne media of electricity, gas, water and district heating into a multi-utility network control center. Due to the novel design of the electricity control room, during the conceptual engineering phase it was first necessary to investigate how far integration of other media into the electricity control system is possible, or whether these would require a separate control system. The operating constraints and requirements of various options were investigated with their economic performance. Following conceptual engineering, Fichtner drew up specifications for the selected option and evaluated bids from candidate suppliers.

Multi-utility control center and cross-utility optimization for Technische Werke Ludwigshafen, Germany

For electricity, gas and water supply, district heating generation and refuse incineration, a new multi-utility control center was planned by Ludwigshafen’s municipal utility, to entirely replace the previous power plant and network control centers in the city territory. A particular feature is combining monitoring of distribution networks with that of the comparatively large district heating plant and refuse incinerator, for which an unprecedented high degree of integration was attained. Specific challenges of this project were, firstly, provision of various interfaces to the retained automation systems and, secondly, standardization of monitor displays for all utility media. In parallel to renewal of the unmanned operation installations, a cross-utility optimization system was procured for forecasting, load management, planning unit dispatch and commercial functions. Fichtner’s services covered all planning stages from recording basic data and constraints, through conceptual design, to supervision of commissioning.

Modernization of Saar Ferngas AG process control system, Germany

Via a 1714 km long gas transportation network with some 400 transfer points and an underground reservoir, Saar Ferngas AG supplies natural gas to a population of more than 3.2 million in 500 towns and communities as well as 20 industrial sites and power plants. Fichtner’s contract for renewal of the process control system covered all project phases from redesign of concept and drawing up detailed tender documents with bid evaluation, through assistance during contract award, preparation of performance specifications, up to project handling with acceptance tests. Alongside SCADA functions implemented in the latest technology, particularly worthy of mention in this project is the high-availability concept with triple computer system, backup communication paths and full integration of management of gas transportation.

Central operating and monitoring system for SW München’s heating plants, Germany

With the objective of full remote control of unmanned power plants, Fichtner undertook conceptual engineering, procurement, general project management and site supervision for networking the control systems of all unmanned heating and combined heat and power plant operating sites of Munich’s municipal utility, Stadtwerke München.

Renewal of Stadtwerke Homburg’s network control systems for electricity, gas and water, Germany

The municipal utility company, Stadtwerke Homburg GmbH (SWH), supplies the town and environs of Homburg with electricity, gas, water and district heating. In view of the pending tasks of distribution network operation as well as sales and marketing arising from liberalization of the electricity and gas markets, the primary objective when renewing the network control systems of the multi-utility control center is to provide a high-capability energy management system (EMS). This must effectively and automatically support business processes and communications both for operation of the networks and for trading, sales and purchasing. Key functions for network operation are network load forecasting, energy management, contract management and unit deployment planning, while on the commercial side these are trading functions with procurement optimization, sales load forecasting, customer management and time scheduling. Fichtner undertook an appraisal of the present situation, designed the technical concept and drew up functional specifications with tender documents.

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Electrical system studies

Review of synchronizing check settings in the 380 kV and 220 kV SWISS transmission network by model calculations, Switzerland

Transient phenomena caused by coarse synchronization impose heavy stress on switchgear, transformers and generators. To avoid damage to this equipment when exploiting to the full the available transfer capacity, the power transmission company, SWISSGRID AG, entrusted Fichtner with determining the permissible synchronization conditions for 380 kV and 220 kV transmission lines for the entire Swiss network. These analyses were based on dynamic network simulations of the SWISSGRID network and all relevant sections of neighboring power systems in Germany, Italy and France. The result is a recommendation for optimized synchronizing check settings at all 380 kV and 220 kV transmission line connections.

Development plan for the power transmission networks of the Caucasus countries, Armenia and Georgia

With the objective of identifying bottlenecks and the need for extending the power transmission system of Armenia and Georgia, KfW financed a project for which Fichtner first determined the future power demand and analyzed the existing facilities for power generation and transmission. Then Fichtner reviewed the plans for expanding power generation and transmission capacities, defined the requirements for transit capacities between these two countries, developed various models for this interconnected operation and estimated the costs of the various options.

Feasibility study for the WAPP Interconnection Project, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin

These five West African countries are to be linked via an 1100 km 330 kV transmission line and five transformer substations to the West African Power Pool (WAPP). For this North Core Project, Fichtner prepared the feasibility study and conducted an environmental impact assessment. This included examinations of the costs of the project, its viability under technical and economic aspects, and its financing.

Reliability analysis for MLNG Bintulu, Malaysia

Industrial establishments often place special requirements on the reliability of their power supply. This study was undertaken for the world’s biggest natural gas liquefaction (LNG) facility in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia, which has an electrical network with 200 MW of installed own generation capacity. The study comprised a comprehensive investigation of the reliability on the generation and distribution levels. Some failure rates for the equipment were already known from earlier investigations, and others were determined locally on the basis of statistical data. The key results of this investigation were the probabilities for power deficits, for both the facilities as a whole and for individual infeed substations, the anticipated figures for their duration, and the shortfall in electrical energy supplied. In addition, the costs of production outages were calculated.

Planning and energy market concept of the Trans-Borneo power grid, Indonesia

On behalf of the ASEAN Center for Energy, Jakarta, and with financial support from the EU, Fichtner performed the upgrade planning for the international power grids on the island of Borneo (275 kV) including 500 kV interconnectors between Sarawak and Sabah (Malaysia), Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Brunei. In this connection, concepts and strategies were developed for the transition to a deregulated energy market. In addition, detailed steady-state and dynamic grid calculations were performed and optimization potentials in relation to generation expansion were indicated. The execution of the project involved an intensive transfer of know-how, with regard to various aspects of the planning and operation of the power grid under deregulated market conditions, to the local power suppliers.

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Piping Networks

Pilot project for thermal measurement systems at district heating generation and transmission facilities, Uzbekistan

Under contract to the energy and water utility Energie- und Wasserwerke Rhein-Neckar AG, Fichtner investigated for the European Commission options for development and rehabilitation of district heating facilities for the City of Tashkent, under consideration of decentralized heat generation and distribution. To this end, Fichtner conducted a survey of the present situation of generation and distribution of thermal energy for heating and hot water. Additionally, a pilot project was implemented under the aspect of metering, billing and conserving heat.

Rehabilitation of district heating network in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Fichtner supported the Mongolian energy authorities in rehabilitation of the Ulaanbaatar district heating network of around 220 km and 2000 MW as well as its conversion from fixed to variable flow operation. The services covered specifically support during detailed design, drawing up tender documents, contract award negotiations, site supervision and commissioning, as well as training of operating staff.

Planning services for gas terminals, Germany

Under a framework contract, Fichtner is assisting Gassco AS, the operator of the Norwegian natural gas transportation system, in project management and oversight for development of its German natural gas landing terminals in Dornum and Emden. For Emden, flood scenarios are simulated and protective measures worked out. Fichtner is also preparing a concept for optimization of maintenance and service, specifying the services this entails, and drawing up the tender documents.

Optimization of gas network structure in the City of Jena, Germany

Fichtner determined the development of demand in selected city districts and analyzed future supply options. Furthermore, on behalf of the municipal utility Stadtwerke Jena-Pössneck, an economic comparison and sensitivity analyses were prepared, with a comprehensive recommendation for action.

Media supply to Rhein Papier Papermill, Germany

For tying in the pipeline system of the new Rhein Papier Papermill to the Goldenberg Power Plant, Fichtner undertook on behalf of RWE Rheinbraun AG complete engineering services. Among the media supplied were process and demineralized water as well as steam at 3.2 and 17 bar, with the condensate arising in the papermill returned to the power plant. Engineering services likewise covered the steam reducing stations.

Planning of the district heating grid of the city of Gera, Germany

On behalf of Stadtwerke Gera AG, Fichtner developed a concept for the upgrade, expansion and partial conversion from steam to hot water of the Gera district heating grid. On the basis of this concept, Fichtner subsequently carried out the overall engineering, from permit engineering through to supervision of construction and erection, for the district heating grid and associated stations. The district heating grid was to be designed for a future maximum load of approx. 275 MWth.

Investigation of compressed air station of a foamed plastic plant, Germany

Under contract to EnBW Contracting GmbH, Fichtner investigated problems that arose during operation of a compressor station at ISL-Schaumstofftechnik GmbH, in particular concerning compressor capacity and air supply, pointing out possible solutions. The background for these investigations was possible expansion of production with increased compressed air demand.

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