Cook Strait power link upgrade delayed

Part of the HVDC - High Voltage Direct Current power line that connects the South and North Island power grids. Photo / Simon Baker

A $672 million upgrade of the power link between the North and South Islands is expected to be available for commercial operation from Christmas Eve 2012, eight months later than earlier expected.

National grid operator Transpower previously advised that completion of commissioning of the new link was likely to be delayed, due to delays in the supply and testing of a new control system in Germany by company Siemens.

The project is an upgrade of the high voltage direct current link connecting Benmore substation in the South Island and Haywards substation in the North Island. The link consists of 571km of transmission lines and 40km of submarine cables that make up two separate circuits with major converter systems at each end.

The new so-called Pole 3 link will replace the 45-year-old Pole 1 equipment at both substations with state of the art thyristor valve units.

- NZPA