Gulf Construction Online - Hitachi Energy wins deal for Bahrain grid

Contractors

Hitachi Energy wins deal for Bahrain grid

01 December 2021

Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader, says it has secured a major order from Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) to provide a power quality solution for improving the voltage stability and increase capacity of the national high-voltage transmission grid.

As per the contract awarded by Bahrain’s national electric and water utility, Hitachi Energy will help strengthen the kingdom’s grid to make it more sustainable, flexible and secure.

A more resilient and stable grid transmitting more high-quality power will help Bahrain meet the growing demand for electricity and integrate large-scale renewables to reach its 10 per cent clean energy target by 2035.

Hitachi Energy is the market and technology leader in power quality solutions. The company recently launched SVC Light Enhanced – its next-generation grid stabilisation solution, which combines two grid-stabilising technologies in one device.

“Bahrain is entering an exciting phase as it evolves its economy into new sectors and prepares to integrate large-scale renewables into its power mix,” says Dr Mostafa Al-Guezeri, the Managing Director of Hitachi Energy for the UAE, Gulf, Near East and Pakistan. “A resilient power grid will play an essential role in helping the country achieve its economic, societal and sustainability goals.”

The solution comprises three SVC Light Statcoms (static synchronous compensators), which will be installed close to load centres to improve grid stability and increase power flows throughout the entire grid.

Hitachi Energy’s innovative SVC Light technology provides instantaneous reactive power in response to voltage fluctuations. It is part of a suite of grid and power quality technologies developed by the company to boost transmission capacity and increase the quality and resilience of AC power systems.

Statcom technologies, such as SVC Light from Hitachi Energy, have a 40 per cent lower carbon footprint over their life cycle compared to traditional solutions, says the company.

Statcoms are typically used to bolster weak grids, integrate intermittent power supply from large wind and solar energy plants, and stabilise the effects of load fluctuations caused by energy-intensive industries like aluminium and petrochemicals, both of which account for almost two-thirds of Bahrain’s energy use, it adds.