AREVA T&D has been awarded an order by IE Madeira worth around US$ 400m for a 600 kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) bipole for the world's longest power transmission line, with a total length of 2,375 kilometres. The bipole and its two converter stations will transform alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) with the capacity to transfer 3150 MW from the Porto Velho (Rondonia) collector substation in the Amazon region, to the Araraquara II substation in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where it is converted back to AC.

The Madeira hydro complex in the Amazon region is comprised of two hydroelectric power plants; Santo Antonio and Jirau, with a total power capacity of 6300 MW. The energy will be transmitted through two HVDC bipoles from the northwest to the southeast of Brazil, allowing the integration to the SIN (National Interconnected System) and the transfer of the energy throughout Brazil. IE Madeira is responsible for one of the bipoles supplied by AREVA T&D.

AREVA T&D's contract includes all the equipment, engineering, erection, supervision, pre-commissioning and commissioning for the convertor stations, which will be delivered for commercial operation in April, 2013. The associated transmission line will be the longest in the world.

Philippe Guillemot, Chairman and CEO of AREVA T&D told WIP:"This contract reinforces AREVA’s position as a market leader in the global HVDC segment. It follows a contract for a 500 kV HVDC interconnection between Uruguayan and Brazilian networks."