en.Wedoany.com Reported - The US SunZia transmission line project has recently commenced full operations. Spanning approximately 550 miles with a capacity of 3 GW, the line connects new wind farms in New Mexico to energy-hungry regions in Arizona and California. Project owner Pattern Energy Group announced its official commissioning on June 18, emphasizing that the project can generate and transmit more electricity than the Hoover Dam.

Planning for the SunZia project dates back to 2006, when it was first proposed by Southwestern Power Group. The total investment is approximately $8 billion, with the line crossing federal, state, and private lands. In 2023, Pattern Energy secured $11 billion in financing under the Green Loan Principles framework. Construction officially began that same year, and in April, the project commenced coordinated trial operations with the SunZia Wind array, consisting of 916 turbines in New Mexico.

In addition to directly supplying power to Arizona, SunZia will also connect New Mexico wind power to the California grid, primarily serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Pattern Energy CEO Hunter Armistead stated that the project sets a new standard for future similar energy infrastructure projects.

Swiss company Hitachi Energy provides the core technology for the line. SunZia utilizes Hitachi Energy's HVDC Light® technology based on voltage source converters (VSC), equipped with advanced power electronics to precisely control voltage and power flow. This high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line operates at ±525 kV, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in the United States. The system is also equipped with ultra-fast AC choppers to protect grid stability against unexpected events such as weather disruptions.

Hitachi Energy has an established presence in HVDC projects, with its technology supporting the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line, which connects New York City and the metropolitan area to hydropower resources in Quebec, now meeting up to 20% of the New York metropolitan area's energy demand. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently celebrated the official commissioning of that transmission line.

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