Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD) is constructing a turnkey substation (400/132 kV/22 kV) for the power supply on Saadiyat Island, which is situated 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The order, which is worth about 120 million euros, was placed by the state power supply company TRANSCO (Abu Dhabi Transmission & Dispatch Company). In addition to construction of the substation, the contract also comprises engineering and commissioning. The substation is scheduled to go into operation at the End of 2008.

The infrastructure of the island which has an area of about 27 square kilometers (10.5 square miles) is due to be fully developed by 2018 in what is currently one of the most important ongoing infrastructure projects in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with a total investment volume of about US$ 27 billion. The three-phase development project will transform Saadiyat Island into a tourism center with accommodations for about 150,000 future residents. Scheduled are 8000 private houses, 38,000 apartments and 29 hotels with over 7,000 rooms. The turnkey substation will play a central role in supplying the power needed on the island. The main component of the substation, the gas-insulated high-voltage switchgear, will be manufactured by Siemens at its plant in Berlin.

Siemens can draw on extensive experience with the delivery of 400-, 220- und 132-kV substations for environmental conditions such as those that prevail in the Middle East. Substations in this region have to be earthquake-proof and must be designed for ambient temperatures of up to 55°C in the shade, for sandstorms with wind speeds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph), and for saline sea air at high humidity.