Alstom to increase power transmission stability and quality across Saudi Arabia

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18 Nov 2014

Alstom Grid has been awarded a €47 million turnkey contract by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to supply Flexible AC Transmission Systems in Saudi Arabia. Alstom will supply a Static VAr Compensator (SVC) to the Jeddah substation, situated on the coast of the Red Sea in Western Saudi Arabia, and two capacitor banks to the Wadi Jaleel substation in Mecca, located about 200 km from the city of Jeddah. The SVC (-150 / + 300 MVAr at 110 kV) will substantially improve and increase power transmission stability and quality across Saudi Arabia’s power transmission network. The project is expected to be completed by 2016.

The Static VAr Compensator system, which will utilise the new Alstom patented SVC configuration (with blocking reactor) to improve technical performance, will provide fast voltage support at substations, stabilising power supply and strengthening the transmission grid; power will be fed to major areas across Jeddah and Mecca. Additionally, Alstom will supply two 100 MVAr capacitor banks to the Wadi Jaleel substation in Mecca, and extend an existing gas-insulated substation at Jeddah North 380 kV BSP (Bulk Supply plant). Equipment will be manufactured in Alstom units in Tampere (Finland) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

Patrick Plas, Senior Vice President Grid Power Electronics and Automation at Alstom Grid said, “Saudi Arabia is one of the most significant and demanding market areas for power compensation systems. This contract strengthens our position as one of the world leading suppliers for FACTS technology and is a proof of the competitiveness gained with our innovative technology.”

Jean Marc Coupet, Unit Managing Director in KSA said, “This contract strengthens our position as one of the world leading suppliers for FACTS technology. SEC continues to launch new projects that modernise and sustain power supply and distribution in KSA. Alstom is proud to be part of these big projects.”

Saudi Arabia is emerging as the world’s third largest market for Grid and the world’s largest AC substation turnkey market. The government is committed to spending billions in new infrastructure projects in power, industry, transport and construction.