HVDC Project Implementation

Wayne Litzenberger, FIEEE

After the Planners “Finish”

Contracting for an HVDC project

Construction

Testing and Commissioning

Operations and Maintenance

Dealing with Planners

“We need to figure out how to convince Planning that they can’t take six months to plan a nine month project.”

Pete Raschio, BPA

What should the Planners give you?

Capacity

Thyristor or Voltage Sourced Converter (loss considerations)

Back-to-Back, Overhead, Buried Cable, Submarine Cable

Cost estimates-Supplier’s budgetary estimates

System Impact

Project Authorization

Permits Environmental Impact Statement

Federal land – Right of Way Authorization

NEPA

FERC Permit - Interstate

Presidential Permit - International

Local Jurisdictions - Always

Environmental Impact Statement Figure on two years

Multiple jurisdictions

NEPA

Public Scoping Process

Draft EIS-environmental consequences of project

Final EIS

Record of Decision

FERC Referee – Project vs. Land Owners

Public Meetings

Alternatives

Pre-filing Review

Filing – Draft and Final EIS

Construction Permit

EIS

NEPA

Purpose and need for project

Proposed action and alternatives

Scope and magnitude

Evaluation of affected environment

Evaluation of environmental consequences and impacts Mitigating measures

Endangered species, cultural & historic resources

Forest Service Special Use Authorization check list

Requirement to Obtain a Forest Service Special-Use Authorization

Modification of 4(e) Condition After Biological Opinion or Water Quality Certification

Forest Service Approval of Final Design Approval of Changes Consultation Surrender of License or Transfer of Ownership Hazardous Substance Storage, Plan Use of Explosives in USFS Lands, Requirements Fire Prevention A. Hazardous Vegetation Fuel

Treatment, Plan B. Fire Prevention and Response, Plan C. Investigation of Project Related Fires, Plan

Road Use by Government, Requirement Road Use by Licensee & Subcontractors Road Maintenance & Improvements Safety during Project Construction, Plan Pesticide Use Restrictions, Requirement Erosion Control Plan Valid Claims and Existing Rights Compliance with Regulations

Protection of United States Property

Indemnification

Surveys, Land Corners

Damage to Land, Property, and Interests of the United States

Risk and Hazard

Crossings

USFS Access

USFS Sign Approval

Road and Traffic Management Plan

Recreation Facilities and Administration

Heritage Resources Management Plan

Annual Employee Awareness Training

Special Status Species

Ground Disturbing Activities, Requirement

Vegetation and Invasive Weed Management Plan

Wildlife Management, Plan

Surface Water Resources Management, Plan

Groundwater Management, Plan

Scenery Conservation, Plan

Habitat Mitigation, Plan

Solicitation for Bids

Data

Bidder’s List

Draft solicitation to potential bidders for comment

Cost saving suggestions from suppliers

Bidding period at least 120 days

Timing: How busy are the manufacturers?

Spare Parts – How to specify?

Warranty: RAM-is it worth it?

Specification Detailed vs. Performance

Second source for thyristors?

Schedule – Liquidated damages

Scope

Retain construction activities

Lots of arguments

Standards: IEC, IEEE, ASME, ASCE

RAM Guarantee Reliability – Outages

Availability - % Useful Time

Maintainability

Staff hours to maintain

Elaborate record keeping

Costly for both sides

Bidding

Bid Evaluation

Equalizing bids with multiple options

Losses

Exceptions to the specification

Negotiations

Narrow options

Price agreement

Award

Project Schedule

Payment schedule

Design submittals

Manufacturing

Inspection

Valves

Transformers

Controls-Involve Site Engineers

Type Tests (Witness Testing)

Routine Tests - Standards

Construction

Inspection

Standards

On-site presence

Changes-on site authority

Commissioning

Test Plan

By supplier

Early enough to schedule needed outages

Staged Faults – Calibrate fault locator

Trial Operation-30 to 90 days common

EPRI “Testing and Commissioning of HVDC Systems”

Acceptance Criteria

Successful Trial Operation Period

Documentation supplied and updated

Spare Parts on-site

Starts Warranty

Triggers Payments

Warranty

Many definitions for outages

Forced, Scheduled, Avoidable

Outage records

RAM guarantee

Record keeping costly

Ultimately included in price

Operations and Maintenance

Staffing

Functions

Maintenance Periods

Manufacturer Support

Training

Operations

Unattended - Complexity

Safety

Power Scheduling

Reactive Power & Filter Deployment

SCADA Control

Inspection

Converter Deployment

Metallic Return Operation

Maintenance

Cooling System

Switchgear

Insulation Contamination

Spares

Annual or Bi-Annual Maintenance

Staffing

Training

Original Training Materials

Dedicated Staff

Life Extension Partial replacement

Survey of useful life

Transformers

Breakers

Valves

Cooling

Controls

Replacement Valves

Controls

Cooling

Breakers

Switchgear

Transformers

Filters