Empowering renewable energy in the U.S. with mobile transformer and turnkey services for Avangrid
Customer Story | 3 min read
Avangrid partnered with Hitachi Energy to implement a contingency mobile transformer and turnkey services, to ensure swift, reliable renewable energy transmission even during outages and extreme weather, keeping the US grid resilient and efficient.
Challenges
Safeguarding reliability for growing renewable energy demand
Avangrid, a leader in renewable energy and part of the Iberdrola Group, faced critical challenges in maintaining grid reliability and operational efficiency. The increasing reliance on renewable energy sources like wind and solar brought with it the inherent need for consistent and stable energy transmission. However, transformer failures or planned maintenance outages posed significant risks to uninterrupted power delivery. Compounding the issue are lengthy lead times for replacing traditional power transformers, often taking months or even years, leaving renewable energy assets idle and putting immense pressure on the grid. Additionally, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and winter storms further stress the infrastructure, highlighting vulnerabilities in Avangrid’s ability to quickly recover from unexpected equipment failures.
These challenges created an urgent need for a solution that was not only rapid and reliable but also capable of efficiently addressing both emergency and planned outages.
Solutions
Custom-engineered Mobile Transformer and turnkey services
To address these pressing issues, Hitachi Energy provided a comprehensive, innovative solution in the form of a mobile transformer coupled with a full-service agreement.
This custom-engineered transformer, designed specifically for Avangrid, combines compact, durable construction with multi-voltage capabilities, enabling deployment across diverse renewable energy sites. Unlike traditional transformers, which often remain idle at a utility’s facilities, the mobile transformer is securely housed at Hitachi Energy’s facility.
When a need arises, Hitachi Energy’s team oversees every deployment aspect, from logistics and transport to installation and commissioning. The transformer's lightweight design and ability to adapt to varying voltage levels ensure rapid restoration of energy transmission.
Hitachi Energy’s shell-type technology further enhances the transformer’s reliability and durability, making it a robust solution for Avangrid’s operational challenges. These turnkey services allow Avangrid to focus on renewable energy generation while Hitachi Energy ensures the infrastructure’s resilience and readiness.
Benefits
Safeguarding peace of mind and operational resilience
The rapid deployment capabilities of the mobile transformer minimize downtime during outages, ensuring the consistent flow of clean energy to the grid, even during extreme weather events or equipment failures.
By reducing the lead time for transformer replacement from years to weeks, the solution mitigates risks, loss of profits, and penalties associated with prolonged outages and supply chain delays. Moreover, Hitachi Energy’s end-to-end service alleviates logistical and operational burdens, enabling Avangrid to maintain its focus on expanding its renewable energy portfolio across the U.S. The solution also supports planned maintenance activities without disrupting energy transmission.
This collaboration ensures a more reliable energy supply and aligns with Avangrid’s commitment to driving innovation and sustainability, setting a benchmark for resilience and efficiency in the renewable energy industry.
This mobile transformer is an exciting new addition to our tool kit, highlighting the importance of this relationship. Even more importantly, the service provided by Hitachi Energy means we can deploy it wherever and whenever it’s needed without delay. This collaboration is vital for driving innovation and continuous improvement to deliver the resiliency and reliability of our clean energy model across the U.S.
