Hitachi ABB Power Grids India wins Rs 120 crore order for Indian Railways electrification

2020-7-13 Construction Week Online

It will supply transformers known for their endurance In an order worth Rs 120 crore, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India will deliver its transformers to the government of India’s electric locomotive manufacturer, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), for the production of 400 passenger and freight locomotive engines. Through the project, Hitachi ABB Power Grids continues to contribute to the country’s mission to be the world’s first net-zero carbon emitter by the end of the decade. “The order from CLW is a prestigious one for Hitachi ABB Power Grids. It strengthens a two decades-long partnership with the customer and enables us to contribute further to India’s mission to advance the economy in a responsible manner,” said N Venu, MD, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India. “Railways are the backbone of environmentally-sustainable transport and our pioneering technology will help successfully balance energy expansion with the reduction of emissions.” Hitachi ABB Power Grids India is supplying transformers, which are known for their endurance. They can withstand the harshest of climate conditions and yet maximise safety as well as energy and eco-efficiency. For railways, electric energy is supplied as high voltage to the catenary feeder substations. The transformers reduce the voltage to a suitable level before feeding it to the railway catenary conductors used by locomotives. Different railway electrification systems demand different kinds of transformers. For this project, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India is delivering transformers split between the 6,531 kilo-volt-ampere (kVA) for CLW’s goods locomotive engines and the 7,775 kVA for passenger. These transformers feed power to essential train functions (e.g. traction, lighting, heating and ventilation, brakes, signaling and communication). They are a critical link in the traction chain, driving train performance and operator services.