North America's Longest Underground Transmission Line Starts Up

---

Written by Jesse Broehl, Editor-in-Chief, Breaking Energy News (BEN), IIR Intelligence, (Sugar Land, Texas)

---

Summary

Running under both dirt and water, the Champlain Hudson Power Express line is estimated to represent approximately 20% of New York City's electrical needs.

---

Out of Sight, but Much in Mind

One of the most powerful energy projects you will never see has just been commissioned. Early this month, the 345-kV Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) transmission line was energized and began commercial operations in the U.S. Northeast.

At 336 miles long, both underground and underwater, the more than $3 billion project is the longest fully buried transmission line in North America. This includes about 100 miles underwater the entire length of Lake Champlain, which divides New York and Vermont.

Industrial Info Resources offers more information on CHPE in its Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database, where readers can find details, where readers can find details from a full list of project reports.

The reason for the unusual approach of a submerged and buried line is that it reduces the local opposition that always accompanies large transmission line construction projects. Portions running under Lake Champlain and the Hudson River account for more than half the full length of the line. (See map below for submerged sections in blue.)

By the Numbers

• 336 miles: Full length of CHPE, both underground and underwater
• More than $3 billion: Full investment in the project
• 25 years: Length of power purchase agreement

Details of a Unique Project

CHPE was created through a partnership between Transmission Developers (TDI) and Hydro-Québec, and designed to deliver 1,250 MW of hydro-power from Hydro Quebec Trans Energie's existing and upgraded Hertel Substation in Montreal, Canada to the New York City electrical grid.

The power transferred is estimated to represent approximately 20% of New York City's electrical needs. It is contracted under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Readers can learn more about the Hertel Substation in a detailed plant profile

The transmission project is a high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) system, which delivers power via DC versus typical AC current. This requires a new power converter station at its terminus in Astoria, New York, but HVDC systems are a more efficient means of delivering electricity over extra long distances. Readers can learn more about the new station in a project report.

The line includes 193 miles of submarine cable laid in Lake Champlain, the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, and 146 miles of underground cable buried primarily in roads and railroad rights of way, to the new converter station in Astoria, Queens.

Other key players include WSP USA as the owner's engineer and Kiewit Corporation as the primary EPC. Hitachi Energy designed, delivered and commissioned the converter station. Kiewit led on-land construction activities, including the buried HVDC cable installation upstate, and the converter station in Astoria.

EJ Electric installed various system upgrades, including the Astoria-Rainey Connector HVAC line, also in Astoria. NKT served as CHPE's HVDC cable supplier and submarine cable installer.

Key Takeaways

• Early this month, the CHPE line was energized and began operations.
• It is estimated to represent approximately 20% of New York City's electrical needs.
• It is the longest fully buried transmission line in North America.

---

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news, and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing, and energy-related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified, and verified plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).