HANNOV ER , GE RMAN Y, A PR I L 01 , 20 19

ABB reinvents the circuit breaker -

breakthrough digital technology for
renewables and next-gen power grids
A technological breakthrough by ABB – a solid-state circuit breaker – will
enhance performance of renewable energy solutions, industrial battery
storage solutions and so-called edge grids.

 Vital for the electrification of sustainable transport

 Power losses are 70 percent lower than comparable solutions, ena-
bling savings of up to $200,000 in a ferry and up to $1 million in a
cruise liner over a ten-year period
 Circuit breakers to become 100 times faster than electro-mechanical
systems, service no longer needed as no mechanical components
 Prevents losses of up to $100,000 per plant from missed energy de-
livery and system recovery associated with a short circuit fault
ABB has developed a revolutionary solid-state circuit breaker concept, which meets the highest de-
mands of next-generation power applications as they enter the digital age. The ground-breaking low
voltage circuit breaker concept will be revealed to the public for the first time at the Hannover Messe in
Germany. The product will be available from 2020.

With the new device, today’s electrical grids will be better able to keep up with the rapid growth of re-
newable energy solutions and the shift towards the electrification of transport – whether that’s electric
cars, buses, trucks or maritime vessels – because they will be able to better and more quickly meet new
demanding requirements.

The ABB solid-state breaker concept works by replacing the traditional moving parts of an electro-
mechanical circuit breaker with power electronics and advanced software algorithms that control the
power and can interrupt extreme currents faster than ever before.

Developed in Italy at ABB’s Bergamo Electrification business R&D Center, the ABB breaker concept is the
first of its kind to use a patented insulated gate-commutated transistor (IGCT) semiconductor
technology. This technological breakthrough is combined with new embedded predictive power
management software, protection algorithms and higher levels of connectivity.

For electricity grids, the introduction of the new ABB concept circuit breaker is as dramatic as the switch
from vacuum tubes to transistors, which heralded the start of the digital age. “This development is
going to strengthen the weakest link in next-generation electricity infrastructure. Our 21st Century circuit
breaker technology can better meet the demands of renewables, the electrification of transport and
modern edge grids as today`s offerings,” said Giampiero Frisio, the head of ABB’s Smart Power
business line.

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“With the ABB concept circuit breaker, we help to address the big challenges of future energy
requirements, with ABB innovation and quality. This is a major step forward that will help customers
address the main challenges of future energy requirements.”

The ABB circuit breaker will make electrical distribution systems more reliable and efficient and will drive
down maintenance costs while meeting the durability demands of next-generation electrical grids. The
solid-state circuit breaker will be around 100 times faster than traditional electro-mechanical breakers.
Its speed maximizes the performance of power distribution systems, while maintaining service
continuity. The new ABB breaker will also improve safety and protection for people and equipment. As
there is no energy release when the current is interrupted, there is no risk of arc energy exposure.

Grid-edge electrical architectures depend on energy storage systems – whether they are at a household
or industrial scale. To operate reliably, they require protection devices with extreme short circuit
capabilities and outstanding electrical durability. For example, in the event of an electrical fault in a 4MW
utility-scale battery system, the new solid-state circuit breaker can prevent losses of up to $100,000 per
plant from missed energy remuneration and system recovery costs. Traditional mechanical circuit
breakers also require regular servicing and have to be replaced after about 10,000 operations. ABB’s
solid-state concept circuit breaker can achieve millions of operations with complete reliability and near-
zero servicing.

Sustainability and e-mobility will reshape cities and every aspect of the transportation of goods and
people. The marine segment, for example, is an emerging market for batteries using energy storage
systems to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency for commercial vessels.

Frisio concludes: “The real innovation is how easily the ABB concept breaker will integrate into
applications. We looked at the complex, full system solutions already out there on the market and
decided to give customers a simple standalone component they can integrate into any solution. ABB’s
technology also has the advantage that power losses are 70 percent lower than comparable solutions,
enabling savings of up to $200,000 in a cargo or passenger ferry and up to $1 million in a cruise liner
over a ten-year period.”

The ABB concept solid-state circuit breaker will also make it simpler to integrate power installations into
the digital world. Connection to the ABB AbilityTM digital platform makes intelligent microgrid
management strategies and a host of other data-driven digital solutions straightforward.

Examples of how the ABB concept circuit breaker will underpin the future of energy include:

- Electric Transportation: In marine vessels, for example, the solid-state circuit breaker will make
it possible to keep systems up and running without much interruption, as it is possible to
disconnect just a faulty zone while keeping the rest of the electrical distribution system running;
complete system shutdowns will be a thing of the past.
- Battery storage solutions: In case of a fault, the solid-state circuit breaker disconnects the
faulty zone only, which avoids all the rack fuses blowing up and the resultant shut down of the
whole system. The result is maximized plant uptime and minimized revenue losses.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital in-
dustries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital in-
dustries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation,
Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform.
ABB’s market leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more
than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com

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For more information please contact:

Media Relations
Natalie Hodges
Media Relations Manager
Electrification business
Phone: +41 43 317 65 68
E-mail: natalie.hodges@ch.abb.com

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