Tres Amigas super station - Large scale application of VSC back-to-back technology

The application of large scale Voltage Source Back to Back HVDC Converters to the three North American (NERC-Regional) Grids of WECC SPS and ERCOT presents unique challenges and significant power and transmission scheduling opportunities. This paper is a presentation of the unique aspects of the project, the staged and planned multi-step development of the physical facilities and the potential marketing impact of this project to the energy and transmission markets in these three regions. The environmentally beneficial significance of the project in providing transmission access for newly developing wind generation, and time of day diversity in an area of the US having limited transmission gateways is significant, and will provide economic opportunities for both project participants and interconnected utilities and renewable power developers. While VSC technologies have been provided in other HVDC arrangements, this project uniquely applies up to six back to back converters in an arrangement using proven GIS/GIL technology and leading edge IGBT converter valves in an arrangement offering maximum flexibility to expand and properly interconnect up to 5000 MW of transmission capacity, in a flexible real time controlled environment. This station will be located in Central East New Mexico allowing access to both SPS and ERCOT networks while continuing isolated interconnection with ERCOT.