Eskom has selected ABB to provide the electrical balance of plant (eBOP) for the Ingula pumped storage hydropower project that is currently being built in South Africa.
The 1333 MW hydro plant is a key element of Eskom’s capital investment programme to upgrade and expand the country’s generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Under the $23 million contract, ABB will provide key products such as service and auxiliary transformers, dry-type distribution transformers and medium- and low-voltage switchgear. The hydropower plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2014.
ABB will be responsible for the design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of the eBOP.
Ingula will comprise an upper and a lower reservoir. The upper reservoir will have a total capacity of 22.6 million cubic metres and an active storage of 19.3 million cubic metres. The lower reservoir will have a 26.3 million m3 capacity and active storage of 21.9 million m3.
The reservoirs, 4.5 km apart, will be connected by underground waterways to a subterranean generating plant with four 333 MW pump turbines.
