ABB to Improve Reliability of Power Grid in Saudi Arabia

ABB has won an order worth around $30 million from Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), the country’s leading power utility, to refurbish FACTS systems in the Eastern Operating Area. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2013.

ABB will refurbish two 380-kV Static Var Compensators (SVC) located at the existing Shedgum and Faras Substation, about 300 km East of Riyadh. The SVC’s will operate in parallel with other SVC’s and generators in close proximity. They will provide reactive power support to limit temporary over voltages and mitigate voltage instabilities at low load conditions. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2016.

“This refurbishment project will help improve voltage stability, reduce outages and mitigate the risk of blackouts” said Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABB’s Substations business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. “Strengthening the transmission grid will benefit consumers in the region by improving the reliability and quality of their power supply.”