Hitachi ABB Power Grids to deliver the first large-scale HVDC interconnection in the Middle East and North Africa
Switzerland, Zurich: Hitachi ABB Power Grids has announced that it the consortium has been awarded a major contract worth several hundred million US dollars.
Image source: Hitachi ABB Power Grids
Switzerland, Zurich: Hitachi ABB Power Grids has announced that it the consortium has been awarded a major contract worth several hundred million US dollars.
The contract was awarded by the Saudi Electricity Company and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, for the first ever large-scale HVDC interconnection in the Middle East and North Africa. The interconnection will enable the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Arab Republic of Egypt to exchange up to 3,000 MW of electricity – much of which is expected to be generated from renewable energy sources in the future. The connection will support the flow of power in multiple directions between three terminals and will be the first interconnection allowing the exchange of electric power between both countries.
The global technology and market leader will be delivering advanced technologies for the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power link between the countries. This includes the supply of three HVDC converter stations located at Medina and Tabuk in KSA, and Badr in Egypt. The business will also be providing system studies, design and engineering, transformers, valves, high-voltage equipment, technical advisory, commissioning and service, in collaboration with two consortium partners – Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works in KSA and Orascom Construction in Egypt.
The HVDC link will give Egypt access to the interconnected power grids of the Arabian Gulf, and KSA access to those of North Africa, whilst strengthening grid resilience and power supply security. Both countries have ambitious carbon-neutrality targets. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to increase the share of natural gas and renewable energy sources to approximately 50 % by 2030, and the Arab Republic of Egypt intends to increase the supply of electricity generated from renewable sources to 42 % by 2035. The connection directly contributes to the realization of these goals. The in-country value of the investment is significant, generating new jobs and knowledge transfer for people in KSA and Egypt.
“The clean energy transition is one of the most urgent and important challenges of our times and we must innovate and collaborate to accelerate our carbon-neutral future,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi ABB Power Grids.
In the longer term, the link has the potential to be part of a more broadly interconnected energy system with Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, allowing the exchange of solar power from the south and east with wind and hydro power from the north.
Source: Hitachi ABB Power Grids
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