Hitachi, Quanta Bag EPC Contract for 3.5 GW SunZia Project

Renewable energy players Quanta Services and Hitachi Energy have been selected by Pattern Energy Group, a firm that delves into renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, to build its SunZia transmission and wind project. This is the largest renewable project of the USA being built with $8 billion of direct capital investment.

Pattern Energy held that this will enable access to over 3,500 MW of New Mexico wind power, providing clean, reliable, and affordable electricity across western states.

Quanta will provide a turnkey solution for the 550-mile 525kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) SunZia transmission line that will deliver up to 3,000 MW of clean energy from the SunZia Wind project to the southwestern US.

Its Blattner Company will provide turnkey solutions for the SunZia Wind facility and associated switchyard, which includes the installation of more than 900 turbines, ten substations, multiple operations and maintenance facilities, and more than 100 miles of wind generation transmission lines.

Hitachi Energy will be supplying the HVDC Converter Stations and will utilize its HVDC Light technology and MACH digital control platform for the SunZia Transmission project. This technology enables the efficient transfer and integration of huge volumes of renewable energy over long distances, significantly increasing the amount of clean power available for homes and businesses throughout the region.

Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy, said, “We are selecting two industry leaders – Quanta and Hitachi Energy – to help build SunZia and deliver a world-class clean energy project that New Mexico, Arizona and the entire country can be proud of.”

“Quanta’s selection for these projects builds on a long-standing customer relationship of our industry-leading renewable generation solutions company, Blattner Company, and we appreciate the confidence that Pattern Energy has placed in Quanta to execute on these critical and historic renewable energy projects,” said Duke Austin, CEO of Quanta.

“We are proud to be advancing a sustainable energy future for all in the southwestern United States, enabling Pattern Energy to integrate emission-free electricity into the regional grid serving the southwest,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business

Pattern Energy said the SunZia Wind and SunZia Transmission projects have been developed with a deep commitment to local community engagement and environmental stewardship.

SunZia Transmission will open access to the western energy markets to SunZia Wind, the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere, which is comprised of more than 3,500 MW of new wind generation located in Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties in New Mexico.

SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile ± 525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona. SunZia Transmission will enable SunZia Wind to supply customers in Arizona and California during the crucial early evening hours when demand is high but the available renewable energy supply is low.