ABB substation at Fujairah to strengthen UAE transmission network

By ABB Communications

The turnkey contract includes the supply of gas-insulated switchgear, 500-megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformers, reactors, substation automation systems, as well as protection and telecommunication equipment.

The order comes from the Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (TRANSCO), a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). ABB will design, supply, install and commission the substation, which will have a power rating of 400/132-kilovolts (kV).

Located on the Gulf of Oman, the emirate of Fujairah is encircled by mountains and at 1,150 km² (440 sq mi) in size, represents about 1.5 percent of the total area of the UAE. Fujairah is the fifth largest emirate with a population of about 130,000.

“This installation will play a key role in meeting the growing demand for electricity and also enhance the reliability of the transmission grid,” said Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABB’s substations business unit, a part of the company’s Power Systems division.

An ELK-3 gas insulated switchgear installation, similar to the type of technology that will be installed in Fujairah. ABB switchgear technology has achieved the highest ratings for reliable and safe operation.ELK-3 switchgear are also being used at the Three Gorges Dam in China. The project is expected to be completed by 2012. In addition to increasing power capacity in Fujairah, it will strengthen the reliability of the UAE's power transmission network by feeding electricity to other emirates.

“ABB has a strong track record in the region, and we are pleased to continue with our contribution to the expansion and development of the nation’s power infrastructure” said Mahmoud Shaban, regional division manager for the Power Systems division in the middle-east.

Substations are key installations in the power grid that transform voltage levels and facilitate efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. They include equipment that protects and controls electrical power. ABB is the world’s leading supplier of air- and gas-insulated substations covering a range of voltage levels up to 1,100 kV, and has among the largest number of installations worldwide.

Did you know?

Port of Fujairah is the second largest bunkering port of the world, following Singapore and followed by Rotterdam. (Bunkering is the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use). Located about 70 nautical miles from the Straits of Hormuz, the port is shipping hub for the Middle East and the surrounding region.

CORRECTION: This article incorrectly reported the picture is a GIS installation in Laufenburg, Switzerland (3 bays 420kV).