2009-05-22 - ABB has gone live with the first unit of ABB’s Industrial IT Control System 800xA, following the $9.8m order last year from Genesis Energy to design, construct and commission a control system upgrade on Tokaanu, Rangipo, Tuai, Piripaua and Kaitawa stations.
The new system helps Genesis Energy monitor and control each of the stations hydro generators, 13 in total, as well as the frequency and voltage control of the Grid.
The upgrade of the first unit of four at Tokaanu also signals the first use of ABB’s ‘extended operator workplace’ Industrial IT Control System 800xA in the South Asia Region. The features of the new system include ergonomic flexibility to adjust to Genesis Energy specifications and increased screen and projector adaptability.
| For Genesis Energy, the project represents a significant ongoing investment in key renewable energy plant and will provide the ability to get even further gains in operational efficiency and reliability. | |
Vetti Bala, Genesis Energy’s Project Manager for the upgrade comments:
“Genesis Energy aims for the partnership approach to work together for greater outcomes for both ABB and Genesis Energy, and it has been a great achievement with the help of Simon Wilson, the ABB project manager, and his team”.
Simon Wilson, ABB’s Project Manager for the works, says completing the first station is an important milestone:
“Tokaanu is the largest as well as the central control point station of the five stations to be upgraded. We are now well on track with our process towards the go live of the remaining four units at Tokaanu as well as the units for the next four stations. We are looking forward to seeing the entire project implemented in a single operations and engineering environment”.
Design is currently underway for the four other stations, and the entire project will take approximately another 18 months to complete.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people.