Avangrid announced it acquired a mobile transformer that it says can be quickly deployed and enables the company to resolve outages in the event of a damaged transformer in a couple of months compared to the two-year lead time for a replacement transformer.
Consisting of three modules, the transformer will be hauled on trailers with semi-trucks to the site.
“We are thrilled to have this first mobile transformer, which is an exciting new addition to Avangrid’s toolkit and will improve the resiliency and reliability of our wind and solar operations across the United States,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “When we reduce downtime at our renewable energy assets, we ensure that clean energy keeps flowing to our customers. New, innovative pieces of equipment like this are key to delivering on Avangrid’s mission to accelerate the clean energy transition.”
The new 168 megavolt-ampere (MVA) mobile transformer, custom-made for Avangrid and purchased from Hitachi Energy, can be deployed and installed within a couple of months to any of Avangrid’s onshore wind and solar facilities due to the transformer’s multi-voltage capabilities. The transformer’s technology also allows for a low profile and the ability to withstand higher-than-normal transport accelerations, Avangrid said.
