ABB switchgear to support reliable power in growing area of Berlin

ABB will supply compact gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) to one of the leading German utilities, Stromnetz Berlin GmbH, for the new Wuhletal substation, to strengthen the distribution network and supply reliable electricity to residents in the Berlin-Kaulsdorf neighborhood.

Berlin, the largest city in Germany, is home to around 3.6 million people and growing. The Wuhletal substation is located in the eastern district of Marzahn, an urban oasis with several unique parks and green-belt areas. Upon completion, the new substation will supply electricity to more than 3,500 commercial businesses and 65,000 households.

As part of the project, Stromnetz Berlin is investing in a new gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation to replace an aging one. ABB will design and supply a 110-kilovolt (kV) GIS for the project. GIS technology was chosen as a reliable solution with a compact footprint capable of freeing up to 90 percent of land space compared to conventional air-insulated switchgear. This enables substations to be built indoors within urban areas where land is scarce and costly, while preserving the aesthetics of the cityscape. 

“We are pleased to support Stromnetz Berlin in the development of more reliable grid infrastructure to supply electricity to consumers and businesses in the city”, said Giandomenico Rivetti, Head of ABB’s High Voltage Products business, a part of the company’s Power Grids division. ABB’s innovative GIS technology will help to address the challenge of urbanization, preserving valuable space and maintaining the city’s aesthetics.”

ABB pioneered GIS technology 50 years ago and continues to drive innovations in this space. In a power system, a GIS controls and protects the network from power outages. It facilitates reliable supply of electricity and can be safely operated in confined spaces and harsh environments. Over the last five decades, having installed more than 30,000 bays worldwide, ABB has continued to innovate and make significant advances in this technology, including higher transmission capacity with ever reducing footprint, digitalization and eco-efficiency. ABB offers ratings and applications from 72.5 kV to 1200 kV, and ABB’s latest offering includes eco-efficient and digital capabilities.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner of Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees.www.abb.com