ABB has won orders worth over $60 million for substations that will boost transmission capacity and supply electricity to the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). With a total development area of 173 square km, KAEC is located along the coast of the Red Sea, around 100 km north of Jeddah, the commercial hub of the country. The initiative is part of an ambitious programme aimed at making Saudi Arabia one the world’s top ten investment destinations by bringing in foreign capital to help diversify its predominantly oil-based economy. KAEC is also expected to create up to one million jobs for the youthful population of the country.
ABB’s contract with the Saudi Electricity Company entails the design, supply, installation and commissioning of an expansion of the 380 kV Haramain high-speed railway (HHR3) substation, which supplies electricity to KAEC at 110 kV.
ABB’s gas-insulated 380 kV switchgear technology is expected to maintain reliability and minimise the substation footprint. The company will also supply control and protection equipment, auxiliary systems and substation automation equipment compliant with the international IEC61850 standard to enable monitoring and control of the substations from a remote control centre.
