Energy Sector
We offer products, solutions and services for the entire energy conversion chain – from power generation and transmission to distribution.
Our Energy Sector is the world’s leading supplier of a wide range of products, solutions and services for power generation, transmission and distribution as well as for the production, conversion and transport of the primary fuels oil and gas. We’re the only supplier worldwide with comprehensive knowhow encompassing the entire energy conversion chain and, in particular, plant-to-grid connections and other types of interfaces. We focus primarily on the requirements of energy utilities and industrial companies – particularly those in the oil and gas industry.
Our Energy Sector has some 85,000 employees worldwide. In fiscal 2009, it generated external revenue of €25.4 billion and profit of €3.3 billion.
On the smart grid, even buildings act as power source.
Smart grid technology
A smart grid is an intelligent network for power transmission and distribution that is based on bidirectional communication among all the players in the electricity market. It encompasses the entire energy conversion chain, from power generation to end consumer. Power utilities must achieve a balance between electricity production and the actual electricity consumption of households and industry. This task is all the more daunting because energy from renewable sources is fed into the grid at irregular intervals. That’s where the smart grid comes in, integrating large, centralized suppliers, small, decentralized suppliers who feed into the network only intermittently, and consumers. This integrated approach is made possible by features such as the grid’s expanded automation structure, advanced sensors and decentralized information and communications structure. In addition to enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the power supply chain, smart grids enable consumers to actively participate in the energy market and thus contribute to climate protection.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission enables large quantities of electricity to be transmitted with few losses over great distances of more than 1,000 kilometers.
Long-distance HVDC technology
Electricity from renewable energies is seldom generated in cities. More often, it’s produced far away from the places where it’s needed most. As the following examples illustrate, our high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission systems are transporting large amounts of electricity over great distances with minimal loss – all around the world.
We’ve built a 295-kilometer HVDC undersea cable connection between Australia and Tasmania that is capable of transporting up to 626 MWs of electricity. Long Island, New York and Sayreville, New Jersey have been linked by a 750-MW HVDC system since mid-2007. In India, our HVDC technology is improving the energy efficiency of the 660-MW link between Ballia and Bhiwadi while reducing annual CO2 emissions by 250,000 tons compared to conventional alternating-current systems. In China, we’re currently constructing the world’s first 800-kV HVDC system. The new system’s high voltage will ensure that losses during transport are even lower than with other types of HVDC transmission. Linking the Yunnan and Guangdong provinces, the system will transport up to 5,000 MWs of carbon-free hydroelectric power over a distance of 1,400 kilometers – reducing CO2 emissions by some 30 megatons a year.
In the future, floating wind turbines will be able to supply a substantial amount of energy.
Offshore wind farms
It’s been 18 years now since our company first became active in the field of offshore technology. We’ve already installed several offshore wind farms and are currently involved in constructing a number of further projects. For instance, together with our Norwegian partner, StatoilHydro, we’re now testing the world’s first multi-megawatt floating wind turbine off the coast of Norway. The Hywind prototype turbine went into test operation on September 8, 2009. The pilot project aims to demonstrate that wind turbines which are not firmly anchored to the seabed can generate substantial amounts of energy. Located some 12 kilometers southeast of the Norwegian island of Karmøy, the innovative turbine is held by three steel cables moored to the seabed at a depth of 220 meters. Supplied by Siemens, the floating turbine has a capacity of 2.3 megawatts and a rotor diameter of 82 meters. It will be tested over the next two years, and the electricity generated will be transported to the mainland via a marine cable. All our turbines feature high corrosion protection, remote monitoring options, lightening protection systems and position lights. With over 800 megawatts of installed capacity and an order backlog of more than three gigawatts, we’re now the market leader in offshore wind power.
In the future, ground-installed photovoltaic systems will play a greater role in energy production.
Electricity from the sun
In an age of dwindling fossil fuel supplies, renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important. Photovoltaic systems, which convert solar power directly into electrical energy, are both a key technology for climate-compatible power generation and a major future market, with projected annual growth rates of 20 percent over the next few years. And our company is well-prepared. Active in the area of photovoltaics for more than 25 years, we’re poised to continue expanding our solar business.
As a general contractor, we’re focusing on developing and implementing large-scale photovoltaic systems for customers in the industrial and energy sectors. For example, we’ve supplied systems integration technology for Bavaria Solarpark, one of the world’s largest solar power plants. In Italy’s Campania region, we recently installed a 1-MW solar power plant, which is supplying some 350 local households with ecofriendly electricity.
Parabolic trough power plants, like this one in California's Mojave Desert, produce energy without CO2 emissions.
Solar-thermal power plants
When electricity is generated by means of solar-thermal technology, mirrors are used to focus solar rays. The resulting high temperatures heat water, producing water vapor which drives a steam turbine. Power is generated without producing any CO2 emissions. Our SST-700 industrial steam turbine, which generates up to 130 megawatts of electrical power, enables rapid startup times and quick load reversals, making it particularly suitable for solar-thermal power plants used for non-continuous operation.
We’re the world market leader in turbines for solar-thermal systems. The most common type of system today makes use of parabolic mirrors as collectors. Other up-and-coming technologies which are finding growing application include linear Fresnel collector systems with flat mirrors and central solar power towers with slightly curved mirrors, or heliostats. To date, solar-thermal power plants have been built in Andalusia, Spain, for instance, as well as in Nevada and California in the U.S.