Competence in High Voltage

Transmission Lines

Transmission grids

EHV/HV-overhead lines and cable systems

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SAG-Group

Specialist for energy supply networks and systems

The name SAG stands for large-scale as well as specialist service and systems know-how in the field

of energy technology. Since it was founded in 1916, the company has been closely involved with the

construction and development of electricity distribution networks in Germany and internationally.

A fundamental part of our business has always been the high voltage overhead transmission line

construction, which is managed worldwide by SAG.

Your Partner for Energy relatedInfrastructure

With approximately 8,000 employees, the

SAG Group generates an annual turnover of

around € 1 thousand million. The core markets

are Germany and neighbouring countries in

Western and Central Europe as well as project-

related business in other European countries

and worldwide. SAG has more than 100 loca-

tions in Germany to underline its nationwide

presence.

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Profile

Based on decades of experiences, SAG is one ofthe main players in energy infrastructure construc-tion, delivering customised state-of-the-art solu-tions for all links in the asset management and asset service value chain.

The company’s various business units focus on:• the design, construction and maintenance

of turnkey transmission lines and substations,• the supply of customised automation

and geographic information systems, and• the development of IT-assisted asset manage-

ment and maintenance concepts.

Turnkey projects

SAG offers a complete single-source solution foreven the most ambitious infrastructure projects,where the erection of high voltage overhead trans-mission lines plays a crucial role. Overhead linestransport electric power over great distances –from its source, across a variety of networks, to centres of public and industrial consumption.They are therefore an essential component in large-scale energy supply infrastructures, whosevoltages are virtually standardised in Europe andextend up to 500 kV.

The full-service portfolio of SAG is based on our competence, which is vendor independent,together with our detailed knowledge of the pro-cesses, operating resources and technical systemsinvolved in network operation.

Solutions for new requirements

Two factors have been responsible for bringingabout the changed requirements that have encou-raged the construction, upgrading and replace-ment of transmission lines in recent years: the continued expansion of cross-border gridsystems, and the structural changes taking placewithin transport and distribution infrastructuresas a result of the increased utilisation of regener-ative energy sources, especially wind energy.SAG actively updates its product and service port-folio to meet the latest market conditions. We aimto offer our customers the most reliable, powerfuland cost-effective solutions, which always take into consideration the entire life cycle of the oper-ating resources. This applies equally to transmis-sion grid operators and regional suppliers, or German Railways and energy-intensive indus-trial companies.

The principle of networked competence

The principle of networked competence is the guiding principle for SAG’s transmission line construction activities. Especially on turnkey projects, the transmission lines business unit cooperates closely with our other corporate business units, other SAG Group companies at home and abroad, and with the vendors and customers themselves. SAG’s transmission linesbusiness unit is well represented in the market via subsidiaries, regional offices and local partnercompanies. Our principle German sales and service support centres are located in Montabaur, Langen, Ergolding and Gifhorn. The Export sectionat our corporate headquarters in Langen looks after our fast-growing international business.

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Our product programme

A portfolio meeting highest standards

Construction of transmission lines is an individual and complex business. Each project requires

different national and corporate standards and specifications. These are challenges that SAG is

fully equipped to meet, with its expertise and maximum flexibility and its comprehensive and

in part unique range of products and resources.

Transmission lines are used everywhere to carryelectricity safely, reliably and economically fromthe producer to the consumer. However, there areoften substantial differences in the way thesepower lines are designed and constructed.

This applies to tower types, span length, conduc-tor configuration and sag of conductors.

Specific standards

In addition to comply with the statutory and net-work-specific regulations, we have to take intoaccount local conditions, which are often linkedto protect the environment. As a leading turnkeysupplier of transmission lines up to 500 kV, SAGprovides effective and individual support for thenetwork operators.

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Our product programme

The key areas of our product programme are:• Project management• Design, planning and engineering• Material supply• Finding a route, survey, soil investigation,

foundation construction, tower erection andconductor stringing

• Commissioning• Modernisation• Maintenance• Incident management

Extensive resources

SAG enjoys an outstanding reputation in thefield of transmission line construction thanks to its expertise in turnkey installations, its in-depth personnel and technical resources and its keen service. These comprise:• approximately 300 highly qualified staff• universally deployable plant and equipment

resources• a wide range of powerful IT tools• our own planning and engineering office• a vendor-neutral test and technology centre

Upgrading and replacement

SAG is the leading partner in ambitious domesticand international projects for upgrading or re-placing transmission lines. In Germany, there isincreasing emphasis on upgrading existing linesand rebuilding lines on existing routes. This approach offers a host of benefits for the networkoperator:• Upgrading from 220 to 380 kV improves

operational and cost efficiency.

• Renovating the trusses can increase the lifeof transmission towers by over ten years.

• Stringing with new, more efficient conductorsenables higher power to be carried.

• The time and expense required to gain officialapproval is minimised.

Turnkey erection as a general contractor

In many countries outside Germany, investment inthe transmission grid means completely new trans-mission lines to feed the power from additonal power stations into the grid. Economic growthleads to a growing demand for energy, which ex-isting lines are unable to handle. Also, there arethe plans to link to the national grids of neighbour-ing countries.

SAG normally acts as general contractor for thesekinds of projects – from planning through to commissioning. We usually involve local partners in carrying out the foundation and installation work. Our CeGIT business unit attends to in route planning while our substations business unit linksnew sections of lines to local distribution net-works and substations.

SAG research and technology center

The VTZ (SAG research and technology center) inLangen works on project-related tasks as well asundertaking special assignments commissionedby energy providers and suppliers. The institute isaccredited for the European market and tests com-ponents, sub-assemblies and complex systems in-volved in electricity distribution. It also developsnew procedures for renovating and modernisingexisting network infrastructures.

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References

Turnkey and customised concepts

Turnkey solutions and customised concepts are playing an increasingly important role in the

construction of transmission lines both in Germany and in international markets. For this reason,

transport and distribution network operators choose to take advantage of the capable service and

operational know-how and resources of SAG, as the following reference projects demonstrate.

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References

Electrogaz:

Expansion in Rwanda

Rwanda is consolidating itsenergy infrastructure andone of the latest projects for

which SAG is the acting general contractor invol-ves the construction of a brand new 110 kV over-head power line in the western part of the coun-try. The new route runs over 15 extremely hilly kilometres between Kibuye and Karongi. This investment forms part of the project to generate electricity from the methane gas recently dis-covered below Lake Kivu. The turnkey contractawardred to SAG encompasses planning, the sup-ply and erection of the high-voltage transmissionline and two substations, and training for the per-sonnel of Electrogaz, the state electricity provider.

Nepal Electricity Authority:

Shipping long-distance to

the transmission line

Nepal is adding to its energygeneration capacity with the

construction of a 72 megawatt run-of-river powerstation located approximately 150 kilometreswest of Kathmandu. A turnkey 38.5 kilometre,132 kV overhead transmission line to be erected bySAG for the Nepal Electricity Authority will carrythe power to the grid. From the power station, theline will cross the Marsyangdi River ten times before reaching a substation in the neighbouringmountains. Above the valley, SAG is also buildinga six-kilometre 33 kV line to the regional supplygrid. The numerous component parts required willbe shipped to the area from Calcutta, over 1,000kilometres away.

Fingrid Oyj:

New construction in Finland

As part of the project to expand the use of atomic power in Finland, network

operator Fingrid Oyj has upgraded its 220 kV net-work to 400 kV and at the same time extended itsroutes. Working under occasionally quite extremeclimatic conditions, SAG supplied a turnkey 86-kilometer long 400 kV line linking the townsof Toivila and Vihtavuori in central Finland. Thecontract included planning, tower construction,conductor stringing and the dismantling of an old220 kV line. SAG was also responsible for intern-ational procurement, liaison with the local authorities and quality inspection and testing bythe company's own test and technology centre.

Electricity Supply Board:

Renovation in Ireland

To ensure the security ofsupply well into the futureand to reduce the risk of

unexpected expenditures on repair work, the IrishElectricity Supply Board has modernised its entiremedium voltage network over the past few years.SAG was involved in this logistically highly com-plex project with a ”framework contract“ for2,200 kilometres. The full-service package includ-ed the replacement of wooden poles, conductors,fittings, insulators and transformers. To improvethe stability of the grid, the main power lines wereupgraded from 10 to 20 kV.

SAG GmbHPittlerstr. 4463225 LangenGermany

T +49 6103 4858-0F +49 6103 4858-389E info@sag.euI www.sag.eu