DEWA inaugurates 400/132kV substation at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), inaugurated the 400/132 kilovolt (kV) substation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The AED 275 million substation has a conversion capacity of 1,515 megavolt amperes (MVA). The inauguration was attended by senior officials from Swiss firm ABB, the main contractors of the project, and senior staff from DEWA. The substation is one of the first projects of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. It will transmit and transform electricity produced from solar energy and connect it to DEWA’s grid. The substation is the first of its kind in the UAE to integrate clean energy with the traditional energy grid.

Frank Duggan, President of Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) at ABB, HE Mohammed Abunayyan, Chairman, ACWA Power, Frederic Trefois, Group Vice President of EPC Solutions at ABB, Novak Stevanovic, Senior Vice President of EPC Solutions Middle East at ABB, and Thomas Rechsteiner, Project Director at ABB, attended the inauguration.

DEWA officials present included Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation, Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power, Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, Yousef Jebril, Executive Vice President of Power, Water & Planning, Khawla Al Meheiri, Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Jamal Al Hammadi , Jamal Al Hammadi, Vice President of Special Projects, Saeed Al Jallaf, Vice President of Transmission Projects and Permits.

Al Tayer, accompanied by ABB officials, toured the site of the project, which consists of four sections. The first includes a 400kV substation with 11 gas-insulated switchgears (GIS). The second section converts from 400 kV to 132kV with a conversion capacity of 1,515 MVA. It includes three 400/132 kV interconnecting transformers. The third section has 21 GIS. The fourth section houses the control and safety facilities. ABB cooperated with a number of companies, including Energo and Comodor, to complete the project.

“I am pleased to welcome you all to the inauguration of the 400/132 kV substation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which was constructed in adherence with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which is a roadmap we follow in all our work, initiatives, and development projects. This project supports the Dubai Plan 2021 to transform Dubai into the preferred place to live, work, and visit. The 400/132kV substation with an investment of AED 275 million and a conversion capacity of 1,515 megavolt amperes (MVA), is one of the first projects of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, and will connect and transmit the energy produced from solar power generation to DEWA’s grid. It is the first substation of its kind in the UAE which integrates clean energy into the traditional energy network,” said Al Tayer.

“DEWA works to build world-class energy infrastructure that meets Dubai’s development demands, as part of DEWA’s ongoing efforts to achieve its ambitious strategy and plans, to deliver the highest standards of availability, reliability and efficiency. Due to the importance of the project, DEWA directed ABB to adhere to the highest levels of health and safety, and to finish the project on time according to the highest quality standards. The project was successfully completed within 26 months. This is a record time for the construction of power stations with a capacity of 400 kV. No injuries or accidents were reported during the construction of the substation, which accumulated a total of 2.6 million man-hours. This reflects DEWA’s commitment to implement projects with efficiency, following up with operations, and monitoring the progress of all projects,” added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer noted that DEWA now is working on increasing the transmission capacity of the substation, and its efficiency, through three 400kV GIS bays, one 400/132kV Transformer (ICT) with a capacity of 505 MVA, nine 132kV GIS bays, and four 132kV shunt reactors.

“At DEWA, we do not rest on our laurels. Instead, we continue to do our best. We are committed to launching further renewable and clean energy projects, to enhance sustainability and green economy, and help establish a brighter and happier future, for generations to come,” concluded Al Tayer.

“ABB is pleased to support Dubai’s clean energy vision by being a technology partner to DEWA at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. As a leader in the energy revolution, ABB is perfectly positioned to support growth of renewables in the UAE energy mix and strengthen its power infrastructure,” said Frank Duggan, President of AMEA at ABB.

“The ABB substation at the solar park will be the first 400kV station in the UAE connected to integrate solar energy, facilitating reliable and efficient transmission of clean power. We look forward to continuing to support DEWA, which has earmarked sustainability as a key focus area to complement federal development plans for a green UAE economy,” added Duggan.