meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Hitachi Energy rides HVDC boom

12 November 2024

The GCC region’s strong drive to decarbonise electricity generation, distribution and consumption has led to an increased demand for renewable energy and electric mobility, which in turn require strong, secure and reliable grids.

“The key issue [among stakeholders] is how to stabilise the grid and maintain its resilience to ensure safety and security of supply,” Bruno Melles, global managing director for the Transformers Business Unit at Zurich-headquartered Hitachi Energy, tells MEED.

Options to address this issue include offshore and onshore interconnections, particularly through high-voltage direct current (HVDC) networks, as well as the deployment of battery energy storage systems.

HVDCs are broadly considered more environment-friendly compared to their alternating current predecessors by allowing electricity transmission over long distances with minimal losses.

Several HVDC networks are under construction across the GCC states. The region’s first subsea power transmission network in Abu Dhabi replaces existing offshore gas turbine generators catering to Adnoc’s offshore operations with more sustainable power sources available in Abu Dhabi’s onshore power network.

The Saudi-Egypt interconnection is also underway. Once completed, it will enable the daily exchange of up to 3,000MW of electricity, opening up potential energy trade between the GCC and other countries in the Gulf, Africa and Europe.

Saudi Arabia also recently awarded a $5.3bn contract to interconnect its western, central and southern regions through an on-land HVDC network.

In addition, in May this year, Hitachi Energy signed agreements with Enowa, the utility arm of Saudi gigaproject developer Neom, to supply three HVDC transmission systems with a total capacity to transmit up to 9,000MW of electricity.

Discussions are under way for more of these types of projects, notes Melles, who says these projects reflect the need to integrate and secure the grid, particularly as more countries consider cross-border links and connecting their existing grids to remote renewable energy plants.

As interconnection investments grow, the need for digitalisation will also grow as utilities and transmission system operators seek more precise ways to manage their electrical loads and avoid waste.

Large users

The presence of industries with high power demands such as refining has been a distinguishing feature of most GCC states' power systems.

Most recently, the drive to deploy AI-based applications has spurred a boom in data centre construction particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“We’re seeing plans to build data centres with load capacities of up to 1,000MW,” explains Melles, who points out that these facilities are fast becoming a major power utilisation point similar to other large industries.

The International Energy Agency estimates that data centres represent roughly 2% of global power consumption in 2022 and this is expected to more than double to 5% to 6%,  according to various projections.

An increase in the large power user base, even as electrification increases, reinforces the need for more resilient grids that can deal with varying loads and distances and energy sources, according to Melles.

Meeting demand

Globally, transmission and distribution infrastructure buildout is expected to catch up with prolific investments to expand generation capacity as power and decarbonisation demands increase.

Across the GCC, an estimated 49,000MW of conventional and renewable energy power generation plants are under construction as of October this year. The project pipeline remains robust, with key jurisdictions such as Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi aiming for renewable sources to meet up to 50% of their electricity demand by the end of the decade.

The GCC region’s power transmission and distribution sector is also set to experience its best year in terms of the value of awarded contracts. 

According to data from regional projects-tracking service MEED Projects, the total value of awarded contracts for substations, control centres, overhead lines and cables across the six GCC states reached an estimated $13.8bn between January and September 2024.

This figure already exceeds by 81% the total value of contracts awarded in the preceding full year.

To meet demand, Hitachi Energy, which supplies solutions ranging from large transformers, communication networks, cooling systems and cybersecurity to cable accessories, recently launched a $1.5bn programme to boost its transformer production capacity between 2024 and 2027.

“We need to scale up capacity and availability, and we are committing with our parts suppliers… to be able to supply [transformers] to the industry,” explains Melles.

Hitachi Energy is also, more crucially, investing in human resources as it expands its production capacity and presence globally. "We are investing in people across all skill levels in our company not just in our factories… because we believe resource constraints will be more serious than steel or copper constraints."  

The executive notes that in addition to driving power demand, AI is a key development that suppliers like Hitachi Energy are following closely due to its potential to transform industries over time.

Current AI applications enable predictive maintenance and reliability, where they can analyse data from sensors and maintenance records to predict when equipment may fail.

The next stage, which Melles expects will cause widespread disruption, is when AI is applied to industrial process and engineering optimisation, which experts say may lead to increased efficiency, reduced resources and improved product quality, among others.

“AI offers a great opportunity if used properly,” the executive concludes.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12898322/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Lowest bidder changes for Dubai Metro Blue Line

    22 November 2024

     

    Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

    The team of Spain’s FCC, Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and France’s Alstom has emerged as the low bidder for the Blue Line extension to the Dubai Metro network after revised bids were submitted on 21 November.

    The team submitted an offer of AED19.8bn after the project client, Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), asked bidders to submit proposals with alternatives to reduce the price.

    The consortium’s price is nearly 18% lower than its original base offer of AED24.1bn submitted on 8 October.

    The second-lowest price on 21 November was the AED20.3bn bid submitted by a consortium of India’s Larsen & Toubro, China’s Powerchina, the local Wade Adams and Hitachi.

    The third-lowest bid was an offer of AED20.6bn submitted by a consortium of Turkiye’s Limak Holding, Mapa Group, also of Turkiye, and the Hong Kong office of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

    The RTA had received another round of updated offers a week earlier on 14 November. That time the Limak/Mapa/CRCC team submitted the lowest bid with a price of AED21.7bn.

    For the first round of revised offers on 7 November, the group of China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group (CTCE), Egypt’s Arab Contractors, the local Binladin Contracting Group and Spain’s CAF submitted the lowest-priced revised base offer of AED22.2bn.

    The CTCE/Arab Contractors/Binladin/CAF group submitted the lowest base offer when the bids were first submitted on 6 October.  

    The design-and-build contractor for the Blue Line will be responsible for all civil works, electromechanical works, rolling stock and rail systems. After completing the project, the contractor will assist with maintenance and operations for an initial three-year period.

    The Blue Line will connect the existing Red and Green lines. It will have a total length of 30 kilometres (km), 15.5km underground and 14.5km above ground.

    The line will have 14 stations, seven of which will be elevated. There will be five underground stations, including one interchange station, and two elevated transfer stations connected to the existing Centrepoint and Creek stations.

    The scope of the contract also includes the supply of 28 driverless trains, the construction of a depot to accommodate up to 60 trains and the construction of all associated roads, facilities and utility diversion works.

    The detailed scope of work for the project includes:

    • Civil works, including detailed design and construction of architectural and structural components (including viaducts, tunnels and stations)
    • Design and execution of electromechanical works
    • Design, procurement and delivery of operation and control systems for rail, stations and facilities
    • Design, manufacturing and supply of rolling stock

    UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, approved the Blue Line extension project last year. In a post on social media network X, formerly Twitter, he said the project will cost AED18bn ($4.9bn) and will have a length of 30km, half of which will be underground.

    He added that the extensions will transport 320,000 passengers a day and serve a population of about 1 million people living in areas such as Festival City, International City, Rashidiya, Warqa, Mirdif, Silicon Oasis and Academic City.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12972366/main.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • Silk Road Fund to co-invest $2.8bn in Masdar projects

    22 November 2024

    China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF) has agreed to invest up to RMB20bn ($2.8bn) in projects alongside Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) in renewable energy projects across developing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries.

    Under the agreement, Masdar and Silk Road Fund will establish a strategic partnership to pursue co-investment opportunities in renewable energy projects developed, invested in or operated by Masdar.

    China's BRI envisages connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and other parts of the world through a network of infrastructure and trade projects.

    Masdar’s chief executive Mohammed Jameel Al-Ramahi and Silk Road Fund chairwoman Zhu Jun signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the planned cooperation at the recent Cop29 climate summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

    Masdar has significant investments in the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa, many of which are participants in the Belt and Road Initiative.

    The company said it will continue to invest in these regions as part of its strategy to reach 100GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.

    SRF’s renewable power portfolio totals more than 7,000MW in Belt and Road regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

    The UAE has been an active partner in the BRI since the initiative was launched and has already invested $10bn in a joint China-UAE investment fund to support BRI projects in East Africa.

    Photo credit: Pixabay (for illustrative purposes only) 

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12972007/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Kahramaa awards Facility E contract

    22 November 2024

     

    Qatar state utility General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has awarded a contract to develop and operate Qatar’s Facility E independent water and power producer (IWPP) project to the sole bidder led by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation.

    According to a source close to the project, the project’s power and water-purchase agreement (PWPA) is due to be signed on 25 November.

    The Facility E IWPP scheme will have a power generation capacity of 2,300MW and a water desalination capacity of 100 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD).

    MEED reported in July that Sumitomo had submitted a proposal for the contract. It leads a consortium that comprises fellow Japanese utility developer Shikoku Electric, Seoul-headquartered Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation and Korea Southern Power Company.

    The developer consortium’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner is South Korea’s Samsung C&T.   

    The contract to develop the Facility E IWPP was first tendered in 2019. The three teams that submitted bids for the contract in August 2020 were:   

    • Engie (France) / Mitsui (Japan) / Yonden (Shikoku Electric, Japan)
    • Sumitomo / Kansai Electric (Japan)
    • Marubeni / Kyushu Electric (Japan)

    The original plan was for the Facility E IWPP to have a power generation capacity of about 2,300MW and a desalination component of 100MIGD once fully operational.

    Kahramaa revised the power plant’s design capacity to 2,600MW and sought alternative prices from bidders. 

    Kahramaa eventually cancelled and reissued the tender in September 2023. The current tender entails a power generation plant with the same capacity as initially tendered in 2019.

    MEED understands that the new target commercial operation date for the Facility E IWPP project has been moved to 2027. 

    The state utility’s transaction advisory team includes UK-headquartered PwC and Clyde & Co as financial and legal advisers, respectively, led by Belgrade-headquartered Energoprojekt as technical adviser.

    Facility E is Qatar’s fifth IWPP scheme. Completed and operational IWPPs include three projects in Ras Laffan – known as Facilities A, B and C – and Facility D in Umm Al-Houl.

    Awarded in 2015 and completed in 2018, Facility D was developed by a Japanese consortium of Mitsubishi Corporation and Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). South Korea’s Samsung C&T was the EPC contractor.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12971834/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Masdar and Hassan Allam sign Egypt solar and battery contracts

    22 November 2024

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Cairo-based Hassan Allam Utilities, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Infinity Power have signed two power-purchase agreements (PPAs) with Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) for the development of two solar projects with a combined capacity of 1,200MW.

    The first solar project in Wahat will have a capacity of 900MW. The second solar plant in Benban will have a capacity of 300MW and include a battery energy storage system (bess) plant capacity of 720 megawatt-hours (MWh).

    Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al-Jaber witnessed the signing of the PPAs. 

    In a statement, Hassan Allam said the facilities “are expected to play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions, supporting Egypt’s sustainability ambitions, and increasing the supply of clean energy in Egypt”.

    It will also be the first development to come on stream in the broader strategic partnership between Hassan Allam Utilities, Masdar and Infinity Power. The partners are looking to develop close to 11,000MW of renewable power generation capacity in Egypt.

    In May, the team signed a land access agreement with the Egyptian government for a planned 10,000MW onshore wind farm project in Egypt.

    The agreement gives the consortium access to a 3,025-square-kilometre area in West Sohag and enables it to conduct the required development studies, which will help advance the project to the construction phase.

    The agreement followed an initial memorandum of understanding signed by the consortium and Egypt’s New & Renewable Energy Authority in November 2022, and a land agreement announced in June of last year.

    Photo credit: Hassan Allam

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12971765/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Morocco awards $2bn of high-speed rail construction work

    22 November 2024

    Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

    Contractors have now been selected for the eight main civil works packages on the Marrakesh to Kenitra high-speed rail line. The construction contracts total nearly $2bn.

    Each package covers the earthworks, structures, communications systems and fencing of different sections of the 245-kilometre line, with each lot covering between 36km and 64km.

    The contractors selected for each package are as follows:

    • Package 1: China Railway Number 4 Engineering Group (CREC 4) – MD3.4bn ($348.9m)
    • Package 2: Shandong Hi-Speed Group Company (China) – MD4.05bn
    • Package 3: Societe Les Grands Travaux Routier (GTR – the local subsidiary of France’s Colas) – MD2.15bn. The low bidder at bid opening was China Overseas Engineering Group with an offer of MD2.048bn, but the Moroccan contractor was selected after national preference criteria were applied.
    • Package 4: Travaux Generaux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC – local) – MD2.8bn
    • Package 5: China Railway 20th Bureau Group (CRCC 20) – MD1.8bn
    • Package 6: Jet Contractors (local) – MD2.1bn
    • Package 7: Groupe Mojazine (local) – MD1.98bn. The low bidder was China Gezhouba Group at MD1.88bn, but the local contractor was selected after national preference criteria were applied.
    • Package 10: China Overseas Engineering Group – MD1.35bn

    The link will extend the Al-Boraq railway, a high-speed rail line between Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca. The line started operating in 2018 and was Africa’s first high-speed railway system.

    In August, MEED reported that the client, Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), had appointed a team to provide project management services for a high-speed rail link. The contract was awarded to a team comprising French engineering firms Egis and Systra, in association with Moroccan firm Novec.

    In November, ONCF also announced it had awarded an $81m contract to German firm Vossloh to deliver components for the high-speed project.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12972029/main.jpg
    Edward James