PARIS (Aug. 27, 2014) – Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. E.S.P. (ISA), one of South America’s largest utility companies, has agreed to work with GE’s Digital Energy business to deliver power to some of the most isolated regions in Colombia, Chile and Peru.
ISA will enhance its power transmission capabilities in Colombia by replacing aging equipment and install new high-voltage systems in Peru and Chile that will increase ISA’s power transmission capacity.
GE will equip ISA with state-of-the-art series compensation banks. GE’s fuseless design produces high unbalance current (used to detect capacitor issues) with low voltage stresses, ensuring utilities can deliver reliable power and prevent cascading power failures.
ISA owns and operates the majority of the region’s high-voltage network, including some of the 500-kilovolt lines. This project is part of the company’s recently won public tender—led by the energy ministries of Peru and Chile—to install, operate and maintain a new transmission grid for the next 25 to 30 years.
“As one of the leading transmission operators in South America, ISA’s transmission network plays a critical role supplying electricity that will enable the region’s economic growth and promote a higher quality of life,” said Bob Turko, general manager in Digital Energy’s business. “Our series compensation technology offers ISA cost-effective solutions that will fulfil their growth vision and deliver a strong return on their investment.”
GE's experience in series compensation systems dates back to 1928 when it pioneered the technology and completed its first installation on the emerging U.S. transmission grid. Today, its series compensation systems equip utilities with the ability to increase the power transfer capabilities of their existing infrastructure and new transmission lines in a cost-effective way.
GE’s Digital Energy business provides transmission and distribution solutions that manage and move power from the power plant to the consumer.