Swiss power automation company ABB has won a US$20mn order from the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) to extend a sub-station that aids with integration of solar energy into the emirate?s grid
ABB will design, engineer, supply, install and commission the extension of the sub-station. Key products to be supplied include three bays of 400 kV and eleven bays of compact 132 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), power transformers, and IEC 61850-based open architecture automation and controls. To increase overall transmission capacity, ABB was awarded a contract in 2014 to build a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) sub-station that would integrate power from the solar park.
Now, the planned extension is meant to increase and eventually diversify Dubai?s energy mix to meet the growing demands of the city, as DEWA is planning to double the net output capacity of the the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park from 100MW to 200MW.
?We are working to achieve the goals of UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021 to support Dubai?s economic growth, through diverse and secure energy supply and efficient energy use, while meeting environmental and sustainability objectives. DEWA is also committed to achieving the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to generate seven per cent of Dubai?s total power output from renewable energy by 2020 and 15 per cent by 2030,? said DEWA CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which will produce power to serve more than 30,000 homes in the emirate, will be amply backed by ABB?s power systems to integrate the solar energy into the city?s power grid and enhance power supply.
ABB power systems division president Claudio Facchin said, ?We are proud to contribute to Dubai and the UAE?s energy diversification initiative and bring clean energy to meet growing industrial, commercial and residential demand. This project reiterates our focus on growing markets and renewables in line with our Next Level strategy.?
The extension is scheduled to be completed in 2016, confirmed ABB.
