In addition to providing detailed technical expertise to the development team, Siemens will work with Clean Line to develop, design and implement the HVDC converter stations for the $1.7bn project.
Rock Island is one of four Clean Line transmission schemes in the early stages of development. The US faces a dual challenge to modernise and expand its grid, and to bring wind power from remote areas to load centres.
“Siemens is really good at this stuff and understands it,” Clean Line president Michael Skelly tells Recharge, referring to the German company’s 25 years of international experience with HVDC.
