The FINANCIAL — Hitachi, Ltd. and National Grid SA, the operator of the national power transmission grid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on September 2 announced an agreement for technical collaboration in the areas of electricity infrastructure development relevant to products for the nation’s substations.
Based on the agreement, Hitachi will jointly evolve with National Grid the standardization of products for substations and provide training appertaining to products to National Grid’s engineers. Hitachi is the first company in Japan for signing such agreement with National Grid.
The rapid growth in demand for electric power in Saudi Arabia against a background of population and economic growth has created an urgent need for additional transmission lines and other power transmission infrastructure. As the largest nation in the Middle East in terms of both its economy and population, Saudi Arabia is expected to increase the number of its transmission substations from the current total of about 720 up to 900 by 2020. Saudi Arabia accounts for approximately 40% of the Middle East market for gas-insulated switchgear, essential equipment in substations, with ongoing growth in demand anticipated as the population continues to rise, according to Hitachi.
Hitachi has long had a close relationship with the Juffali Group Company Walid Ahmad Juffali Company Limited. By partnering with WJCO to establish Hitachi T&D Systems Saudi Arabia Ltd., a joint venture for gas-insulated switchgear and other power distribution equipment established in March 2015 in Jeddah, Hitachi intends to combine its technical capabilities with WJCO’s strong market presence to supply highly reliable equipment and services in Saudi Arabia. Through HTDSA, and based on this collaboration agreement, Hitachi intends to propose ways in which National Grid can standardize its rules for engineering and design, and other activities of maintenance and preventive maintenance associated with products such as switchgear and transformers that are used in substations. The two organizations also plan to share knowledge, experience, and technology through measures that include training and technical exchanges with local engineers. The aim is to utilize the excellent technology and experience of Hitachi to contribute to infrastructure construction and human resource development in the electricity distribution sector in Saudi Arabia by building a long-term cooperative relationship with National Grid.
National Grid operates all of Saudi Arabia’s high-voltage and extra high-voltage transmission lines, and is working on projects aimed at increasing operational efficiency and at the installation and development of new transmission lines, substations, and other infrastructure. National Grid works to regularly improve and develop transmission networks(110 – 380) KV and 500/ 600 KV DC in all sectors of the Saudi Electricity Company. The Company aims to raise the readiness of the network and ensure the continuity of its reliability. Also, the Company gives great importance to the pilgrimage season each year, working to avoid any electrical interruptions in the holy sites that could affect pilgrims. This is achieved by advanced planning of the maintenance and forecasting workloads in addition to processing and fully preparing for any emergency well in advance.
Based on this agreement, Hitachi and National Grid will contribute to the reliable and secure supply of electric power in Saudi Arabia through the development of technology for high-voltage transmission lines and human resource development.
Discussion about this post