ABB Ltd. (ABB) has received $18 million order to supply 380kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) equipment for a new substation, Mecca West. Mecca West is being established by the Saudi Electricity Company. The substation will reinforce the utility network and improve power supply to the city of Mecca. ABB’s scope of supply includes 15 circuit breakers with control panels, which will be installed, tested and commissioned in a fast-track project scheduled for completion in around 18 months.
The GIS will be supplied by ABB’s high voltage GIS manufacturing unit in Switzerland.
“This is a highly reliable solution with extremely low space requirements which is ideal for densely populated areas, thereby minimizing environmental impact,” said Stefan Ranstrand, global head of the High Voltage Products business within ABB’s Power Products division.
The standardized bay construction and compact design make it easy to access the switching equipment from a maintenance perspective. By optimizing the components, their number and weight is reduced, allowing the dimension of the bay and the carrying capacity of the building foundations to be substantially reduced. High quality materials and the latest technology lower the maintenance effort and extend service life.