Hitachi Energy, a global leader in sustainable energy solutions, has secured a major contract from Enowa and the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to design, develop and commission one of the world's first 3 GW, 525 kilovolt (kV) HVDC Light transmission systems in Saudi futuristic city NEOM.

 

The ground-breaking deal inked with Enowa, the energy and water company of NEOM, and SEC will see Hitachi Energy design and develop the first phase of the visionary NEOM region transmission system, together with its consortium partner Saudi Services for Electro Mechanical Works (SSEM). 

 

This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of NEOM, a ground-breaking project that is reshaping the future of sustainable development, said the statement from Hitachi Energy.

 

This system will help connect Oxagon - home to advanced and clean industries with industrial innovation at its core within the Saudi futuristic city - to the Yanbu area, over a distance of more than 650 km in western Saudi Arabia, it added.

 

Hitachi Energy's project scope includes the design, engineering, procurement of HVDC technology and commissioning of the HVDC Light converter stations. 

 

SSEM, a leading Saudi engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company specialised in power projects, will design and supply the AC equipment and handle the construction and installation. The converter stations will convert power from AC to DC and back to AC for integration into the receiving grid.

 

Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business, expressing delight at boosting its collaboration with Enowa and SEC, said: "With our proven track record and extensive global presence, we are driving the energy transition to create a more sustainable, flexible, and secure energy system."

 

"Hitachi Energy's expertise and HVDC technologies were enablers of the global energy system's electrification and transition to renewables," he added.

 

Thorsten Schwarz, Executive Director of Grid Technology & Projects at Enowa, highlighted their commitment to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 in collaboration with Hitachi Energy and SEC. 

 

As NEOM's energy and water company, Enowa aims to produce and deliver clean and sustainable energy for industrial and commercial applications. 

 

As the principal shareholder in the world's largest green hydrogen production plant, Enowa is poised to make NEOM a global green hydrogen hub and a benchmark for sustainable economic circular systems, he noted.

 

The partnership signifies the first step toward building an essential part of NEOM's future grid, he added.

 

NEOM, located in northwest Saudi Arabia, is one of the ambitious giga-projects spearheaded by Saudi Arabia. It is designed to be a blueprint for sustainable urban living, utilizing 100 percent clean energy from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and green hydrogen. 

 

To achieve this goal, Hitachi Energy will supply three high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems with a total power capacity of up to 9 gigawatts (GW) to Enowa.

 

Additionally, Hitachi Energy and Enowa have signed an agreement for two HVDC projects, each with a capacity of up to 3 GW. These projects will be part of a scalable and modular regional network design that aims to seamlessly integrate future renewables and energy storage technologies into the NEOM Energy System. 

 

The collaboration will also explore opportunities to develop local competencies in the Kingdom, including the sustainable assembly of HVDC Light components, it added.-TradeArabia News Service