The power solutions company has previously won contracts from Dewa to build and extend GIS substations that will integrate power from phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, one of the biggest renewable energy projects

ABB has won orders worth over $60 million from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) to supply three turnkey substation solutions for residential and industrial areas in Dubai. The orders were booked in the third quarter.

These areas are undergoing infrastructure development, including residences and resorts, to support Dubai’s positioning as a global hub for business, finance and tourism, targeting over 20 million visitors by 2020. The city is also preparing to host the Expo 2020 exhibition, a major global trade event.

The projects are part of the UAE’s efforts to address the increased demand for electricity resulting from economic growth necessitating capacity expansion and upgrade of the nation’s power infrastructure. The population of the UAE has risen from 0.1 million in 1960 to 9.5 million in 2014.
As part of the project scope, ABB will design, supply, install and commission the 132/11 kilovolt (kV) substations in Majan, Nad Al Hammar and Maaden.

The deliveries include high and medium-voltage switchgear including ELK-04 GIS (gas-insulated switchgear), the new air-insulated switchgear UniGear ZS1, power transformers rated at 50 megavolt amperes (MVA) and IEC 61850-based automation and controls that will facilitate connectivity and open communications in line with ABB’s focus on the Internet of Things, Services and People.

The substations will also be equipped with capacitor banks that will help to reduce electricity losses and improve the stability and quality of power supply.

“ABB’s advanced technologies will help to enhance the capacity of the grid, bringing more energy to meet growing commercial and residential demand,” says Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABB’s Substations business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. “We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s efforts and the strengthening of UAE’s power infrastructure.”

ABB has previously won contracts from Dewa to build and extend GIS substations that will integrate power from phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park. The park is one of the biggest renewable energy projects in the Middle East and North Africa, and will help to diversify Dubai’s energy mix to meet growing demand.

“Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is working to achieve the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to build a brighter sustainable future for the UAE and Dubai in particular,” says Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa.

“By working with strategic partners such as ABB, we are developing the most advanced transmission and distribution network in the world to deliver the best services to the citizens and residents of Dubai. Dewa has achieved world record results surpassing the private sector and leading European and American companies in efficiency and reliability. This is demonstrated by reducing losses in the electricity transmission and distribution networks in 2014 to just 3.2 percent, compared to 6-7 per cent in the European Union and the US.”