ABB Power Systems

ABB Power Systems
Name	ABB Power Systems
Industry	Electrical engineering
Founded	1970s
Founder	ASEA, Brown Boveri
Headquarters	Västerås, Switzerland
Key people	Vladimir P. M. Fertig, Ulrich Spiesshofer, Joe Hogan
Products	High-voltage equipment, transformers, HVDC, FACTS, switchgear
Revenue	Unknown
Num employees	Unknown

ABB Power Systems ABB Power Systems is the major high-voltage and grid solutions division historically associated with ASEA and Brown, Boveri & Cie and later incorporated into ABB. The division developed and deployed technologies for electric power transmission, HVDC links, FACTS devices, and high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear, serving utilities, industrial complex projects, and infrastructure operators. Its activities intersected with global projects involving national utilities, international consortia, and research institutions such as EPRI and Siemens Energy collaborations.

History

The lineage of ABB Power Systems traces to ASEA and Brown, Boveri & Cie whose merger created ABB in 1988, following mergers and expansions in the European Economic Community era and cold-war era procurement markets. During the 1990s and 2000s the division engaged in large-scale projects with entities including National Grid (United Kingdom), REN (Portugal), Statnett (Norway), Landsnet (Iceland), Prysmian Group partnerships, and consortia for interconnector projects involving TenneT, RTE (France), and Red Eléctrica de España. The unit evolved through corporate reorganizations alongside ABB’s divestments and acquisitions, interacting with multinational firms such as Alstom, General Electric, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi Electric in competitive procurements and technology licensing.

Products and Technologies

ABB Power Systems developed a portfolio spanning high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converters, flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), high-voltage transformers, gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), protection relays, and substations. Key product lines addressed long-distance transmission challenges similar to projects by Siemens and GE Grid Solutions and incorporated semiconductor advances from suppliers like Hitachi and Infineon Technologies. The division delivered turnkey substation packages, offshore converter platforms akin to systems used by TenneT and Ørsted, and grid stabilization equipment interoperable with standards from IEC and IEEE. Its HVDC technology competed in markets dominated by projects such as the Pacific DC Intertie and the HVDC Cross-Channel link between United Kingdom and France.

Projects and Installations

ABB Power Systems supplied equipment and engineering services for interconnectors, utility upgrades, and industrial installations worldwide, collaborating with operators including National Grid ESO, PJM Interconnection, ENTSO-E, CIGRÉ, and national utilities like EDF and E.ON. Notable installations paralleled high-profile schemes such as the Inga-Shaba and long-distance links in India involving Power Grid Corporation of India, as well as renewable integration projects tied to offshore wind farms developed by Vestas and Siemens Gamesa. The division participated in modernization efforts for urban transit electrification similar to initiatives by Transport for London and supplied HVDC links analogous to the NordLink project between Norway and Germany.

Organizational Structure and Operations

Operationally, the business operated within ABB’s global framework, aligning regional sales and engineering with market units in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East. It coordinated with regulatory bodies like Ofgem and FERC through project licensing and compliance teams, and partnered with manufacturing firms such as Siemens Energy and Schneider Electric for components and supply-chain logistics. Workforce composition included engineers specializing in power electronics, system protection, and project management, often engaging with universities like Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), ETH Zurich, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for talent and collaborative research.

Safety, Standards, and Environmental Impact

The division adhered to industry standards set by IEC, IEEE, and regional regulators, implementing insulation, arc-flash, and earthing protocols comparable to guidance by OSHA and HSE (UK). Environmental assessments addressed lifecycle impacts similar to those considered in projects by World Bank and Asian Development Bank financed transmission works, focusing on SF6 alternatives due to greenhouse gas concerns raised in studies by IPCC and regulatory pressure in the European Union. Decommissioning and recycling programs mirrored practices of multinational manufacturers like ABB Ltd. peers, working with organizations such as UNECE on hazardous-material transport and waste management.

Research and Innovation

Research efforts engaged with consortia including CIGRÉ, EPRI, and academic partners like Imperial College London and Delft University of Technology, exploring superconducting cables, power-electronics converters, and grid-forming inverter technologies. Innovations in modular HVDC substations, digital twins and condition-based monitoring paralleled developments at General Electric Research and Siemens Corporate Technology, leveraging advances in machine learning from labs at Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University. The division contributed to standards work and published technical findings at venues such as IEEE PES General Meeting and CIGRÉ Session.

Category:Electrical engineering companies