SIEMENS ENERGY is hoping to become the technology leader in high-efficiency, environmentally friendly transmission of large amounts of electrical energy when, at the end of this year, it will be put into operation a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link in China. With a transmission capacity of 5,000 MW covering a distance of more than 1,400 kilometers, this HVDC system is touted as the world's most powerful of its kind in operation.
Siemens will also be commissioning the world's largest and highest-capacity 800-kV HVDC transformer in China in this year. This transformer is intended to support the country's next HVDC transmission system, a 6,400-MW system that will transport power equivalent to that supplied by 12 average-size coal-fired power plants over a distance of 2,000 kms. “Our technology leadership offers a good starting basis to become the clear number one on the global market for HVDC,” stated Udo Niehage, CEO of the power transmission division in the Siemens Energy Sector.
The global market for HVDC transmission currently has a volume of about 3 billion euro, with average growth of more than 10 percent annually. Volume is expected to climb to between 5 and 8 billion euro by 2020, of which Siemens hopes to have a significant share.
With their innovative power electronics and ability to control the amount of power that is intelligently transmitted, HVDC systems are an important element of a smart grid. Siemens Energy is one the world's leading suppliers in this area as well, and plans to further expand its position.
The Siemens Sector expects orders for smart grids totaling more than 6 billion euro through 2014.
“As global market leader in grid automation, we are already well established in this business. We're at the beginning of a new era of electricity with smart grids,” commented Niehage.
In 2009, Siemens earned revenues of nearly 1 billion euro with smart-grid technologies. “The smart-grid market will also become increasingly dynamic as a result of climate change and programs to boost the economy. Our aim is to grow more than twice as fast the market as a whole,” Niehage added.
The addressable market for Siemens will have a cumulative volume of about 30 billion euro through the year 2014. Siemens is targeting annual growth of 7% in smart-grid business and a market share of more than 20%.