MEE 2013 DAY THREE 17 - 19 FEBRUARY 2013 www.middleeastelectricity.com Doing Global Business the Power of Good
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Confidence in the region’s power sector demonstrated at MEE 2013
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INSIDE
Scenes from the show Check out latest the images from Middle East Electricity Page 15
GCC intensifies solar focus Renewable integration on the agenda for the Gulf region Page 9
Aramco explores new roles Oil giant targets opportunities in the power generation sector Pages 12-13 Free solar workshop Page 14 Anita Mathews, Director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Middle East Electricity.
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iddle East Electricity closes today with both visitor and exhibitor numbers up, reflecting growing optimism within the region’s power and energy markets. Anita Mathews, Director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Middle East Electricity, said, “There is a lot of dynamic activity going on across the GCC’s power sector and with approximately US$46bn worth of power projects with completion dates within the next two years it will continue its grow. “Whether it is the increasing population, a growing number of infrastructure developments, or an increase in energy demand, there have been many factors driving investments in the power sector, and that has been reflected in the way
Middle East Electricity has been growing.” Visitor figures for the first day of Middle East Electricity 2012 demonstrated a 28 per cent year-on-year increase compared to the 2012 edition of the show, which Mathew’s described as a “phenomenal increase” in event traffic. This year’s show saw the introduction of the Solar Middle East exhibition, providing suppliers and manufacturers of solar and PV equipment with a dedicated platform to promote their products and services. “Solar has always been a part of MEE, but we thought it best to have a dedicated platform for the solar and PV sector,” Mathews noted. “There has been a growing emphasis on solar and renewable projects across the MENA region and we wanted to make it
easier for companies to promote their solar range at MEE by creating a separate platform for them.” Mathews said that the co-located exhibition had enjoyed a very good start in terms of exhibitor uptake, with close to 100 companies opting to exhibit at the new solar platform. MEE 2013 also saw the launch of the Green Energy Conference. Set up in partnership with Dubai Municipality the conference provided a platform for the Municipality to promote its green building codes. Looking forward 12 months, Mathews said that the focus of MEE 2014 would be on building on current sectors. “MEE has for the past few years averaged five to 10 per cent growth in spite of the
economic slowdown and the show has continued growing, which we hope to achieve in 2014 and beyond,” she remarked. “We launched Solar Middle East this year and our objective is to grow that further for the next edition. We’ve had a very good response from exhibitors and visitors alike for the event and for the 2014 event we expect this to grow further.” The build-up to MEE 2014 is already well underway with Mathews noting that within an hour of opening on the first day, a number of exhibitors had asked to rebook for bigger stands next year. “It is a very positive sign that exhibitors have been coming to us and saying they would like to secure their presence at the next edition of the show,” concluded Mathews.
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News Yamuna Cable wins its biggest single order in Saudi Arabia
Yamuna Cable has won a two-year contract with Saudi Electricity Company.
Yamuna Cable has won its biggest single order in Saudi Arabia in a deal with Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). The two-year contract with SEC could eventually lead to Yamuna Densons setting up a manufacturing line in the region in order to serve its growing customer base more efficiently. "Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region has always been one of our major markets and a real target area for us," noted Ravi Sardana, managing director of Yamuna Densons. Yamuna Densons has worked with SEC in the past but this new deal is its biggest win so far. The deal covers the whole Kingdom through SEC’s centralised purchase and distribution system. Sardana added that the deal with SEC puts the company in a better negotiation position with its raw material suppliers and machinery manufacturers as the requirements in the Gulf region for better quality products is rising steadily.
The company's local Saudi Arabian partner, KANOO, played a key role in helping facilitate the deal. Sardana remarked, "We do not see SEC’s growth in the next five years slowing down and we are very bullish about the Saudi market.” The sheer size of the business in Saudi Arabia and the volumes involved means prices remain highly competitive, which is why this deal with SEC will help Yamuna Densons keep up with its competitors. The firm will be focusing more and more on the automation of its assembly process, which will help increase its production capacity. Yamuna Densons is a manufacturer and supplier of power cable jointing accessories based in India. www.yamunadensons.com
Faraday looking to expand presence across Middle East The Faraday Centre, one of the UK’s leading electrical training providers, has been looking for further opportunities across the Middle East at MEE 2013, while promoting safety issues within the power industry. The company, which has a training facility in Cyprus, has now attended MEE four times and has been using this year’s exhibition to meet potential clients and increase its exposure across the region. Specialising in competency-based, high-voltage and low-voltage training, Faraday is keen to play a role in raising awareness of safety issues relating to the power industry, utilising its experience of the well-regulated UK market. Training facility manager Graham Wilson said, “We don’t really have much competition in the Middle East and what we offer is quite niche as there are not really any other training providers out here. “We also send training staff abroad to work with companies at their facilities, which often sets us apart from the competition. We have quite a broad global reach and in cases where we do not have an instructor who can speak the local language we hire interpreters,” he added. Visit The Faraday Centre on Stand 2F16
Visit Yamuna Cable on Stand 2D01
Matrix Comsec is looking to make its mark within the Saudi Arabian market Matrix Comsec, a leading Indian manufacturer of telecom and security solutions, has partnered with Integrated Trading Services (ITRADS) to expand its operations in Saudi Arabia. Matrix Comsec’s collaboration with ITRADS, which offers licensing and software solutions and is based in Saudi Arabia, began in August 2012. Abhay Joshi, business manager of international security sales for Matrix Comsec, said, “We at Matrix are excited by our partnership with ITRADS to develop our business in Saudi Arabia. “Together we plan on providing comprehensive and feature-rich access control and timeattendance solutions for all businesses to increase security and improve productivity.” Meanwhile, Mohammed Hasan, senior business development manager at ITRADS, added, “We at ITRADS are extremely happy to associate with world-class security solutions company Matrix. “[The company] provides outstanding product software and customer support that is helping our enterprise customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to experience the best security systems, which help build sound human resources systems and beyond.” Established in 1991 in Vadodara, India, Matrix has accumulated more than 350,000 customers across a range of industries and countries. Matrix Comsec is looking to make its mark within the Saudi Arabian market.
Visit Matrix Comsec at Stand 2G20
C&S Electric showcasing a host of new products at MEE C&S Electric has had a strong presence at Middle East Electricity this year and has been showing off a host of new products for the electrical market. Navneet Sharma, vice president of export at C&S Electric, spoke to Middle East Electricity Dailies about the importance of the new products for the Middle East market. The company has been showcasing its new circuit breakers, which form part of
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the new accessories that have come from the firm’s acquisition of Netherlandsbased Etacom. The new range includes power resin cast busbars, both medium and low voltage up to 24kV, which according to Sharma means C&S Electric has one of the largest ranges of busbars in the world. The firm has also launched new contactors with inbuilt two aux contacts, isolated phase busduct up to
24kV, genset panels and new moulded case circuit breakers. “We are great supporters of MEE as it is very customer orientated and product focused. It is not too conceptual and it is more grounded. Whenever we come to Middle East Electricity we come away with new business,” commented Sharma. “Over the last year we have sustained good company growth during a difficult patch. We have introduced new products
and entered new markets and have set up operations in China and Belgium,” he added. The Middle East is a very important region for C&S Electric and is a crucial market for exports. The UAE and Qatar are the firm’s biggest markets and it is looking to expand its operations in Saudi Arabia, where there is the biggest demand in the region for busbars, noted Sharma.
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News Industry’s best celebrated at MEE 2013 Awards Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)CEO and Managing Director, His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, was named as Power Personality of the Year at the Middle East Electricity Awards, which returned for the second year running. More than 1,000 people attended the awards ceremony, held in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which celebrated the industry best in the region’s power, lighting, renewable, and nuclear sector. Solar projects scored big on the night, with Trojan Battery Company and Incon General Contracting taking home the Solar Project of the Year Award for their role in developing the UAE’s first ever solar lighting project for rural area roads. Commissioned by the UAE Ministry of Public Works in January 2012, the project has led to the installation of solarpowered road lighting along an 11km stretch of road in the Wadi Sadr area, inland from the port town of Khor Fakkan. His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of DEWA, received the Power Personality of the Year award in acknowledgment of his leadership role behind DEWA’s contribution to the economic development of Dubai. Among the other solar projects named as award winners were Dubai Municipality
and ALSA Solar Systems Ltd who took home the Best Innovation/Technology of the Year Award for their Solar Pumping Systems project, which is currently being implemented at 34 roundabouts across Dubai. The project consists of a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable drip irrigation system that combines solar energy and Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE). Anita Mathews, Director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Middle East Electricity, said, “The Middle East Electricity Awards are an excellent reference to pay tribute to the outstanding achievements of individuals, departments, teams and organisations that have contributed to the growth and development of the regional energy industry across the region. “The Middle East energy sector continues to grow with new exciting projects, innovations, and developments being announced every year throughout the region and tonight is our chance to recognise, appreciate and celebrate these accomplishments.” Other winners from the evening included FAMCO, who won the Best Campaign award, with Al Fanar Constructions coming out on top in the Power Project category for its work on Hall Power Plant III.
The winners of the second Middle East Electricity Awards celebrate at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Middle East Electricity Awards Winners Category
Winner
Project
CSR Initiative
Society of Engineers – UAE
CSR Initiative
HSE Project or Initiative
RasLaffan Power Company
Visible commitments towards HSE
Power Project
Al Fanar Constructions
Hall Power Plant III
Lighting Project
Bahri & Mazroei Trading Co
LED lighting and solar PV implementation
Power & Water Utility
QPower QSC
Ras Laffan Water & Power Plant
Best Innovation / Technology
ALSA Solar Systems Ltd & Dubai Municipality
Solar Pumping Systems
Solar Project
Trojan Battery Company & Incon General Contracting
First solar lighting for roads in UAE rural areas
Special Recognition Awards Winners Category
Winner
Green Energy Partner
Dubai Municipality
Power Personality of the Year
His Excellency Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer
Best Campaign
FAMCO
Environmental Partner.
Environmental Center for Arab Towers (ECAT)
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Show News Megger showcases FREJA 400 relay testing series Megger has been showcasing its new FREJA 400-series of relay testing equipment at this year’s MEE. The instruments in the series offer a combination of high-compliance voltage and high currents to test all electromechanical, solid-state and numerical-based overcurrent relays, including voltage controlled, voltage restraint and directional overcurrent. With three current generators and four voltage generators, the IEC 61850-standard FREJA 400-series provides a complete threephase test system for the commissioning of three-phase protection systems. Featured in the series is the FREJA 406, which generates six currents, alongside the FREJA 409, which generates nine currents for transformer differential testing. The FREJA series of products also includes the Megger FREJA Win software, enabling the user to control the test sets via a PC. The ‘wizard’-based functionality of the software allows the user to set up the instrument for routine tests simply by answering a series of straightforward questions. It then provides guidance during the performance of the test, flagging up unexpected conditions and results and providing clear advice on appropriate remedial action. A further advantage of the FREJA 400-series is its capability of generating clear and comprehensive reports in a format that allows test results to be conveniently shared. Visit Megger on Stand 4B01
Megger's new FREJA 400-series.
MESC gains ESMA backing at MEE Middle East Specialised Cables Co. (MESC) officially received certification from the Emirates Authority for Standardisation & Metrology (ESMA) at yesterday’s Middle East Electricity. A signing ceremony took place when H.E. Eng. Mohammad Saleh Badri, director general of ESMA, visited MESC’s stand and signed the certificate alongside MESC group president, AbdulAziz A. Al Duailej. MESC vice president of marketing and sales Chew Tan said, “There’s a growing requirement for third party certification so this is another confirmation of our standards and quality that they’ve given us so we’re very happy. We’re a local company and we’re
committed to the quality here.” The official backing of the standards and regulations body forms a further boost for the Saudi Arabian cable specialist and follows ESMA’s stringent auditing programme. “We have received the Emirates quality mark from ESMA and have received the certification after they came and audited our factory, saw all of our products and have seen the manufacturing quality of all of them,” said Sylesh C.G., MESC sales manager. “The process took four to five months because they had many audits going on.” MESC is a leading manufacturer of instrumentation and control cables, which are
AbdulAziz Al Duaiej and H.E Eng Mohammad Saleh Badri at the signing ceremony.
widely used in the oil and gas sector, and has factories in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE. Visit MESC on Stand 7E20
SDMO unveils fail-safe APM 802 control panel French genset maker SDMO has singled out the Middle East as a major The system is ideally suited for data centres, banks, hospitals, as well business opportunity, taking steps to beef up its local as the oil and gas and mining industries, and the IPP footprint in anticipation of future demand. segment. The company is in the process of expanding its According to Forest, the APM 802 is a fail-safe aftercare and service capabilities out of its Dubai hub, system, and easy to use, with a fully touch-sensitive and has recently opened a new office in the Egyptian screen. The Man and Machine Interface has been capital, Cairo. designed in collaboration with a specialised And there are plenty of other markets opening up ergonomics company. too, reckons SDMO communications department Forest sees great potential for the new control manager Philippe Forest. “Saudi Arabia especially is a panel across the Middle East. big market for us right now,” he explained. Like other SDMO products there is a strong focus The energy solutions provider is at MEE 2013 to on high level engineering. showcase its new APM 802 control panel, the latest “We have a very strong dealer here and there are a evolution of SDMO’s power plants management suite lot of projects,” he said. “It’s a good region for us but of products. there are a lot of competitors, and they are focusing The latest launch offers customers great versatility, on the price.” SDMO’s Philippe Forest and Jeanenabling easy extension of an existing power plant by François de Sallier Dupin with the new APM 802 control panel. the addition of a new genset, for instance. Visit SDMO on Stand S3C20
Visa follows record year with new line Italian generator manufacturer and hire company Visa SpA is experiencing another strong year, despite the ongoing global financial slowdown, and is set to release a new product line. Marco Barro, president of Visa SpA, explained that the company had continued to thrive, although market conditions have continued to be testing. “Despite the global financial situation, 2012 was a record year for us so we’re very happy with that in terms of turnover and our manufacturing numbers,” he said. “This obviously though was done with great sacrifice and commitment on Visa’s part; the financial institutions and credit insurance companies,
that should help businesses to grow, have been very prudent in supporting client needs.” Barro puts the company’s ongoing success down to a number of key factors. “Visa’s strength during these difficult financial times that we find ourselves in is, we believe, due to the consistent high quality of our products and innovation, which means the products are always being improved and bettered in some way to meet client needs and requirements,” said Barro. “The third aspect, and this is above all, is that we take our clients very seriously in the sense that we are committed to them just as they are committed to us. We are in it for the long haul
and we walk the walk together with them.” Barro then revealed that Visa SpA is on the verge of releasing a new product range, ensuring that the company remains ahead of the competition. “We’re working on a new product line that incorporates very strong and sturdy gensets, with stage IIIA emission engines and low noise levels, and their accessories for the hire market,” said Barro. “This is something that we’re planning to launch at the Plantworx exhibition in the UK in May. We’re looking to get into a new niche area with this product.” Visit Visa SpA on Stand S3D01
Cummins unveils CorePlus Motor Generator Cummins Generator Technologies confirmed the development of its CorePlus Motor Generator for commercial vehicle applications in September 2012. The Cummins CorePlus Motor Generator is available with power, torque and performance characteristics and is suitable for hybrid systems, electric vehicle designs, range extender solutions and electrical power generation in vehicles. The technology can also be used in consumer marine and standalone generating set applications. Vikrant Aggarwal, executive director of Cummins Generator Technologies, said, “The class leading performance of the
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Cummins CorePlus Motor Generator has a typical peak power of 90 kW and efficiencies greater than 95 per cent. “The electric machine is complemented by power electronics with Cummins’s embedded control algorithms to further extend performance and capability. Alternate power and performance nodes can be developed cost-effectively to meet specific customer needs,” he added. Cummins Generator Technologies manufactures AC generators from 0.6 to 20,000 kVA under the MARKON, STAMFORD and AvK brands. Visit Cummins Generator Technologies at Stand S3D40
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QA Interview
Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat is head of the Technology Application and Advancement Group (TAAG) at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Dr Bkayrat gave the presentation, ‘Developing Solutions for the Environmental Challenges to Deploying PV Plants in Desert Areas’ and also chaired the panel discussion ‘MENA Solar Energy Quality Infrastructure’ at yesterday’s inaugural Solar Middle East conference. TAAG is a group of skilled engineers, technology and business development specialists that work on advanced, late stage technologies that are ready for market penetration. Dr. Bkayrat is keen to develop innovative renewable energy systems that integrate different technologies with a focus on overall system optimisation and performance.
Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat.
MEE DAILY: How developed is the international standards, testing and certification environment? Are many standards bodies involved?
MEE DAILY: Are you optimistic that standardisation can keep pace with technological breakthroughs given the speed with which this industry is growing?
Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat: There are well developed standards that are from international organisations such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories), IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and others that are well recognised by the solar industry. There are local country standards that basically follow the main standards of these international organisations. The challenge is to try and maintain one direction that everyone will follow. This is needed as there are many areas of solar technologies that are not covered well from a standardisations and certification standpoint and there are new technologies that continuously keep developing all the time. Added to that is the fact that the existing standards for the most part do not cover the climatic details of newly emerging markets such as the Middle East and desert and coastal areas in particular. MEE DAILY: How important is their role in aiding the growth of the emerging solar energy industry in the Middle East? Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat: It is essential to set forth proper standards and guidelines to follow in any new emerging markets. Bad experiences happen as soon as the flood gates open, with say a FIT (feed-in tariff) in Saudi Arabia for example, and will set the market in wrong directions, scare off local investors in particular and cause unnecessary delays. That is the risk of kicking off a market and industry without having proper guidelines in place to guarantee performance, proper quality and yield. There are all sorts of low quality modules on the market place that are really cheap and can cause issues to any new market, based on their level of penetration, which cannot be
controlled without proper standards and guidelines in place. MEE DAILY: How inclusive is standardisation and testing? Do all the main players in the industry have a voice in standards development? Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat: There are two main points here: There are areas that require more emphasis such as CPV (concentrated photovoltaics), trackers, BOS (balance of system) items, CSP (concentrated solar power), thin film PV in general, especially new emerging technologies such as OPV (organic photovoltaics), DSPV (dye-sensitised photovoltaics) etc. There are also existing standards that need to be expanded and modified to include local conditions of new markets, for example Saudi Arabia. This is very important as we do not want local markets to start reinventing the wheel and developing their own standards that will be mandated on industry to follow for accessing local FITs. This will be an added cost and a burden to industry and will not help kick off a healthy market in a timely manner. Hence, existing international organisations should work on this area and do their due diligence in a timely manner. I think local certification and standardisation bodies in new markets need to voice their needs and opinions more aggressively and push for updating existing and creating new standards that cover their interests and needs. MEE DAILY: Is there any unnecessary duplication? Can the system be streamlined? Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat: I am not sure if unnecessary duplication is the issue as much as focus is needed. It would be useful to consider, for example, that each standardisation body would consider focusing on one area, say to develop a proper set of standards for CSP as opposed to trying to cover all technologies that are out there, which no one body can or has so far.
Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat: The track record shows that there is a lag or delay this far between technology development and standards covering those technologies. This is almost typical though of any industry, as things are not looked at seriously, if you will, until there is enough traction and attention from manufacturers and end users that will bring them together to develop standards for the industry. I think this can be improved though and we can see now what is going to be mainstream or is already making big jumps in the market place such as CPV, multi junction cells and thin film PV. Entities and standardisation organisations can work proactively on developing user groups leading to standards in the near future. We have to keep in mind that it’s a long cycle to develop proper standards for any technology as many parties are involved to create a useful and widely adopted standard.
There are technologies that depend on low water usage, such as steam based cleaning and water capture and recycling, that are more or less available today for commercial application. Dry type cleaning requires some further R&D, such as creating coatings for zero energy surfaces and electrostatic discharge sheets or even brush based solutions that do not negatively impact the glass. For temperature performance there is work ongoing in terms of using alternative sheets for module packaging that have better heat dissipation and finding alternative cell configurations etc. I think these challenges can easily be addressed with proper engineering and the R&D being put in place, we are already seeing progress and solutions coming out that will soon minimise such impacts to large scale solar projects in the MENA region.
MEE DAILY: The title of your talk yesterday (Developing Solutions for the Environmental Challenges to Deploying PV Plants in Desert Areas) implied that solar is a double-edged sword in the Middle East. What sort of challenges need to be faced when harnessing sun from the desert? Can technology overcome them? Dr Raed Ahmad Bkayrat: It’s basically dust and temperature. Temperature is a challenge to PV module manufacturers from a packaging stand point and dust is a system operator or operations and maintenance issue. There needs to be a developed and tested set of solutions that cover both dry and wet cleaning for different geographies in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region.
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Show News
PIMco doubles up with new Ward Leonard partnership Lebanon’s Power Industrial Machinery Co. (PIMco), widely known across the Middle East and Africa for its links to Cummins, now has something else to shout about. At MEE 2013, PIMco is flagging up its new role as exclusive agent right across the region for US brand Ward Leonard. The deal gives the American company – which manufactures motors and controls for the oil and gas, mining and energy industries – access to an immense market, plus a well-connected partner in a fast-growth region. “In most countries we have somebody we can trust as a representative or distributor for our generators,” said Bilal M.S. Ruzieh, PIMco projects manager and chief engineer. With a head office in Beirut, and a large manufacturing presence in southern Lebanon, PIMco - the official Cummins OEM in Lebanon - is a leading supplier of 5kVA to 2,000 kVA diesel generators throughout the Middle East and Africa zone. Major current markets include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait plus an emerging Iraq, according to Ruzieh, while in Africa, Angola, Congo and Cameroon are also strong. Ruzieh said PIMco’s core strength in this diverse region is quality, highlighting the global reputation of the Ward Leonard and Cummins brands. “If you are talking about quality, then you are talking about Cummins and Ward Leonard,” he added. PIMco projects manager and chief engineer Bilal M.S. Ruzieh.
Visit PIMco on Stand S3C45
Lucy Switchgear working on pilot project in UAE Lucy Switchgear has been focusing on promoting its automation and control technology at this year’s MEE show and Carl Sellick, global sales and marketing director at Switchgear, told MEE Dailies about the company's new pilot project in the UAE. Lucy Switchgear has been promoting automation and controls for the last two to three years and, although take up has been slow, the firm has a number of pilots and projects up and running in the UAE. "We have an interesting project with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) who have just started a pilot scheme where Lucy Switchgear is supplying elements of the pilot scheme to DEWA," noted Sellick. Lucy Switchgear is now looking to expand it into a proper fledged project, which Sellick said will happen this year. In addition to the project in Dubai, Lucy Switchgear has a turnkey project with Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) that has been running for the last two year. It is responsible for the upgrade and refurbishment of equipment previously installed and they provide remote control and automation facilities. The project has proved to be a success and Lucy Switchgear has negotiated an extension to the contract, which it has just won, to expand the project from the initial 500 sites ADDC identified as potential remote control points and which will now be expanded to another 300 to 400 sites. Sellick said that Lucy Switchgear was focusing on its brand of medium-voltage switchgear called Aegis. The company has also held demos throughout MEE showcasing its automation and control technology. "This is our main feature at Middle East Electricity and we are trying to promote the idea of remote control, system efficiency and basically better customer service for utility companies," he remarked.
Raising the standard The new standard for low-voltage switchgear offers a “passport” for local and regional electrical panel manufacturers to sell their products right across the world. That was the message from Dirk Mueller of UL Europe, who delivered a technical paper on the subject at MEE 2013, to great interest from a packed crowd of Gulf electrical and engineering firms. First introduced at the start of 2009, then amended in December 2012, IEC 61439 is the new benchmark for panels and switchgear assemblies. Mueller said compliance with the new standard can help companies secure market access, both across the region and the rest of the world, for their products. “We can provide global market access and regional market access to Gulf countries by providing technical training, testing and certification,” he said. UL, an independent, certification organisation headquartered in Chicago in the USA, has been testing electrical products for public safety for more than a century. Mueller said UL can work with local panel manufacturers to advise and test new products, and work with them until they achieve the required certification. The company, which also offers training services, has an established presence in Dubai but is keen to expand its footprint across the broader Middle East region. “We are looking at opening other offices in the region,” Mueller added. Visit UL Europe on Stand 5C01
Carl Sellick, global sales and marketing director at Switchgear.
The power market in the region is buoyant and GCC countries are investing in new power stations, which according to Sellick will lead to more demand for power transmissions systems. "In 2013, we are looking to retain and expanding our market share in the region. We are looking to expand into North Africa. Saudi Arabia is one of our biggest markets and we have had a very strong couple of years in Oman and Bahrain despite the problems there," Sellick added. Sellick praised the show and said, "MEE provides us with great visibility and we have really grown our brand through MEE. It has been very helpful to be able to meet visitors from all around the region and world at one show." Visit Lucy Switchgear on Stand 2D10
Dirk Mueller of UL Europe.
FAMCO launches operations in Qatar Following its launch in Qatar in 2012, AlFuttaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) is looking to develop its operations in the country in 2013. From its new base in Qatar, the company is now the exclusive distributor for Linde material handling equipment, Ingersoll Rand industrial air compressors and Himoinsa generators and lighting towers. Since its launch in the country, FAMCO has supplied Himoinsa products to leading construction companies and Linde forklifts to Qatar Duty Free. Paul Floyd, managing director of FAMCO, said, “While the Al-Futtaim Group has excellent historical business ties in Qatar, we felt the time was right for a
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dedicated operation in Qatar to service the country’s rapidly growing construction and logistics industry. “FAMCO is already known as the leading supplier for construction, logistics and industrial equipment in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia, and with our Qatar branch we continue our ambition for becoming the Middle East’s largest equipment distributor,” he added. The company supplies and services heavy vehicles and machinery including trucks, buses, construction machinery, marine engines, air compressors, diesel generators and material handling equipment. Visit FAMCO at Stand S1H10
A FAMCO facility in UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
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Show News Predictable Power: Atlas Copco marks shift to generator business Predictable Power is the name of the game for Atlas Copco at MEE 2013. The new corporate theme - clearly evident from the huge 16 tonnes generator set towering above the firm’s stand this year - reflects a big group-wide strategy push. Atlas Copco’s Julio Tome, product manager, generators, explained that the company has now turned its growing generating business segment into a core area. “We are very serious about this business,” he said. The company can provide power plants up to “multi megawatts” in scale, he added. Atlas Copco also underlined its sustainable business credentials at this year’s show, unveiling its new Solar LED Lighting Tower.
The sun-powered portable lighting system is expected to be popular with the region’s contractors for use on civil construction works. The first consignment of towers is currently making its way to the Gulf, said Michael Sagermann, MENA regional business manager of the company’s portable energy division. Atlas Copco was named one of the world’s most sustainable companies in an annual Global 100 list presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last month. “If customers are looking for a quality product then we are a good partner,” Sagermann added Visit Atlas Copco on Stand S3D25
Staunch launches new hybrid tower Staunch Machinery has launched a new hybrid energy light tower at Middle East Electricity. The Lebanese company’s new product can cut fuel consumption by up to 80 per cent. “It’s a combination of engine and battery, it’s just like a hybrid car basically,” said Hamza Hijazi, Staunch Machinery’s marketing and sales manager. “The engine turns on and charges the battery, once the battery is fully charged, the engine shuts down and the battery takes over and gives power.” The battery can provide over five hours of continuous power before the engine turns back on and another charging cycle begins. “Using this technology you reduce fuel consumption by 50 to 60 per cent,” revealed Hijazi. “You can also add a solar charger to it so you can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 80 per cent. “We were one of the first people to make this technology in Lebanon and we’re revealing it here today.”
Staunch Machinery was established in 1979 and started business by manufacturing concrete mixers and other small construction equipment and now exports its products to around 60 countries. The company started manufacturing gensets relatively recently but has made rapid progress. “We made our first generator about four years ago,” said Hijazi. “But we’ve been a manufacturer since 1979 so we already had the expertise to manufacture products. The power generation division has now taken over business by 40 to 50 per cent.” Hijazi added that the company has recently expanded operations to deal with the increased demand for its products, which are certified to stringent Australian standards. “We just recently opened our new facility that’s about 42,000 sqm and it’s already too small for us,” he said. Visit Staunch on Stand S1J01
Staunch Machinery marketing and sales manager Hamza Hijazi.
Truly Global, Fully Reliable
Kunz Power is at Middle East Electricity 2013 on Stand S2E20-Sheikh Saeed Hall.
Kunz Power supplies: Stationary diesel aggregates (9 to 2250 kVA) ● Mobile diesel aggregates (20 to 500 kVA) ● Flood light systems (9 to 100 kVA) ● Solar generators (with hybrid diesel option) ● Solar mobile flood light ● Ground power units (45, 90 and 150 kVA) ●
Kunz Power is committed to providing a wide range of generating sets of outstanding quality, which would meet our customers worldwide.
www.kunz-GmbH.net Middle East Electricity 7
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Show News CESI invests in new solar cell technology CESI sees a bright future for solar energy in the region and at MEE it has been presenting the latest technology on CESI’s multi-junction solar cells that are very well suited to the region. MEE Dailies spoke with Francesco Fraisopi, CESI’s director of business development for solar cells, and Floris Schulze, managing director of CESI Middle East, about the growth of solar energy in the region. Schulze said, “It is important to be part of Middle East Electricity because we are very active in the region and we want to discuss our new developments and show that we are investing in the region. “We’re here to present the best High Concentration Photo Voltaic technology available in the field,” said Francesco Fraisopi. “This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate technology that is perfectly suited to the Middle East and could change how electricity is generated in the local market. Schulze added, “Solar is an important development in the Middle
East and it will become more and more crucial in the future as Middle East countries search for ways to reduce their energy consumption in order to have more oil for export.” He believes that within a year the industry will see the roll out of these solar developments in the region. CESI also announced that it had established in Germany the largest independent high permanent current test laboratory in the world. It can runs tests up to 50,000 amps at any power frequency from 15 Hz to 65 Hz. “This is a unique offering and it means clients around the world, also in the Middle East are able to test their equipment. It could be a huge advantage for Middle East utilities and manufactures to have their equipment tested in these kinds of environments,” Schulze commented. Visit CESI on Stand 5B30
Making the right connections: Mahindra Powerol showcases e-FSR technology Nominated for the Best Innovation or Technology of the Year award at MEE 2013, Mahindra Powerol is redefining field data collection – and saving customers vital cash too. In a country as large as India, where the firm’s e-FSR (e-Field Service Report) technology is now proving itself, that’s quite something. Part of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra group, Mahindra Powerol has annual maintenance contracts for over 100,000 diesel gensets in India alone. The e-FSR has been specifically designed to help telecoms providers maintain the integrity of these facilities in support of their networks that span this vast nation. “The health of the network decides the revenue that is earned or lost by telecoms companies,” said Shashank Watane, deputy general manager and head of Mahindra Powerol’s international power business. But how do you connect so many thousands of installations across such a big area?
The e-FSR solution deploys a simple handset to collect data from service technicians, which is fed through in an instant to an online Mahindra platform. Although it requires a change of mindset among the technicians – who use a mobile application to feed in data rather than a piece of paper - the e-FSR doesn’t require any other special field skills. The lightning quick system improves information speeds and accessibility to enable better and more informed system monitoring. This can result in important cost savings where potential faults are detected earlier. “Within seconds you can look at the field report,” said Watane. Plus it saves a mountain of paperwork too: the company estimates that based on 100,000 generators, the system saves the equivalent of 4.8mn sheets of A4 paper per year. Visit Mahindra Powerol on Stand S2F39
Shashank Watane, deputy general manager and head of Mahindra Powerol’s international power business.
Ducab enters new sectors Dubai Cable Company (Ducab) is going from strength to strength and with a raft of project wins under its belt the UAE-based company is now producing new copper products for specialist sectors that will help the company become more resilient, Colin McKay general manager sales and marketing at Ducab told the MEE Dailies. McKay explained that Ducab was looking to differentiate itself and it was launching new higher performance cables for different sectors that will help it diversify the sectors and geographies it produces for. “What we want in five years’ time is to be a bit more resilient so we can deal better with a regional recession than we did this time around,” he noted. At MEE, Ducab introduced a new range of Tuff DuFlex wires and cables, which means the firm is the only BASEC-approved cable and wire
manufacturer to offer wires operating in stringent conditions ranging from -40 degrees celsius to 105 degrees celsius. An area that Ducab is really pushing is fireprotective products and the firm was showing its FlamBICC fire resistant cables for residential and industrial use at the show as well. "Fire protective cables are growing in importance, especially with the number of fire incidents that took place in the UAE and Qatar last year. We see far more sensitivity to inferior and poor quality cables than before," McKay pointed out. This is why there is a greater interest in certification and Ducab has been consulting firms that whenever they put in new cables they should have them certified and verified. Ducab is working on a new initiative with DEWA and Dubai’s Civil Defence to launch a roadshow and educate people in the UAE
about the need to specify the right cable. This will be rolled out in the next two months. Ducab is spreading the range of cables it produces into new markets and McKay sees the renewable market as a real opportunity. "We see renewable energy as a growth area and we are looking to roll out this to North Africa as well," added McKay. The firm now has some reference points and last year they worked on a successful project for the Shams 2 solar project in Abu Dhabi, where they supplied the Spanish contractor working on the plant it with all of the cables that moved the mirrors at the solar CSP plant. The company will also be working on the DEWA solar PV Park which First Solar has been contracted to work on and they will supply the low-voltage cables for it. Visit Ducab on Stand 7E10
Floris Schulze, managing director of CESI Middle East.
METS Energy releases new long-running generator METS Energy has unveiled its new generator at Middle East Electricity. The Lebanonbased company’s new Ranger genset is a long-running, low-maintenance unit. “It has long-run characteristics and can run for 1,000 hours without any maintenance,” said Houssam N. Debeissy, METS Energy’s administration and HR director. The company, which was originally formed 26 years ago, plans a controlled yet substantial growth during the coming years, according to Debeissy. “We are present in 15 countries around the globe through our distribution network called PowerMet,” he said. “Our group is aiming to be present in a further 15 countries, so we are targeting being present in a total of 30 within the next two years.” Debeissy added that METS Energy would ensure that it lived up to its slogan of ‘We trust, you care, we deliver’, by focusing on the correct aspects of its business, its products and its care for clients. “This business has been witnessing lots of entrants from all around the world and I hope that consumers remain quality oriented, seeking genuine components, seeking good after sales service and not being price oriented,”he said.“Because as the saying goes, what you buy cheaper today will become more expensive tomorrow.” Visit METS on Stands S3A15 and S3B15
METS Energy administration and HR director Houssam N. Debeissy on the company’s stand at MEE.
AKSA Jenerator to showcase its wide range of solutions Turkish-based AKSA Jenerator San A.S. specialises in gasoline, diesel, natural gas and marine generating sets along with lighting towers and accessories. As well as manufacturing its own engines and alternators, AKSA gensets also feature engines produced by OEMs such as Cummins, Perkins, Mitsubishi, Doosan, John
8 Middle East Electricity
Deere and alternators from Meccalte and Stamford. The company also offers a variety of accessories, including soundproof canopies, containers, synchronisation panels and trailers. AKSA’s natural gas powered gensets remove problems associated with fuel transportation costs and storage and reduce
both noise and environmental pollution. The company also provides co-generation systems to customers with motor types from 100kW to 15MW, which provide both electricity and useful heat energy simultaneously from a single fuel. Through its 10 offices abroad and 20 AKSA Power Centers in Turkey, AKSA is able to
provide comprehensive services to its global customer base. The company’s overseas offices are located in Algeria, China, Dubai, Iraq, the UK, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria and Singapore. Visit AKSA Jenerator on Stand S3C15
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Feature
Will the solar revolution meet the region’s energy needs? With many GCC countries announcing ambitious renewable energy targets, solar power looks set to play a key role in satisfying the region’s energy needs. While there are a variety of potential obstacles that may arise, a greater focus on solar and other renewables may also reap substantial financial, as well as environmental, rewards.
T
he International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has estimated that GCC countries could achieve up to US$200bn in returns as early as 2030 through renewable energy integration. Countries in the Gulf region continue to establish many ambitious clean energy projects which are supported by innovative research and development as well as investment. IRENA reports that there are currently 30 such projects that are in planning stage, under construction or have been completed in the region. The trend marks a shift in the demand for new resources of energy to developing countries. IRENA has added momentum to the recent increase in investment in renewable energy with the roll out of the first allotment of its $350mn funding cycle in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The two Abu Dhabibased institutions are working together to incentivise innovative renewable energy projects in developing countries. IRENA
recently closed applications from such projects for $50mn in ADFD concessional loans in the first of its seven funding cycles. “This financing from ADFD, administered with the support of IRENA, will help projects that are innovative and replicable to get off the ground,” said IRENA’s Deputy Director-General, Frank Wouters, speaking ahead of the recent third session of the IRENA Assembly, which gathered delegates from the agency’s nearly 160 member or participating countries. “By making such projects bankable, we believe we can create substantial growth opportunities for renewables in energy-poor countries.” The unprecedented rise in recent investment is injecting a much needed impetus to the clean energy sector. Global investment in clean energy in the third quarter of 2012 has totalled $56.6bn according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, with many new projects being located in emerging markets. It has been widely reported that Qatar is currently working on a solar energy project
which will account for 16 per cent of the country’s total electrical output by 2018, while Saudi Arabia is seeking investors for a $109bn solar energy programme which will provide a third of electricity needs by 2032 to add to their planned nuclear, wind and geothermal output. The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) has concluded that the Kingdom should try to build nearly 41 GW of solar energy capacity, 16 GW of photovoltaic solar power and 25 GW of concentrating solar thermal power. To place the figures in context, Saudi Arabia’s current solar power capacity stands at just 50 MW. The news of such major regional renewable energy developments comes against the backdrop of figures US government’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre that place all six states of the Gulf Co-operation Council – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – among the world’s top 13 polluters. The figures, based on data from 2009, placed Qatar as the world’s highest per
capita carbon emitter of the 215 countries surveyed, with Kuwait fourth, the UAE sixth and Bahrain eighth. Rather than merely paying lip service to people’s environmental concerns, analysts believe that rapid economic growth in the region and the resulting increase in domestic energy demand mean that countries’ declaring their investment and belief in renewable energy is far from the creation of ‘greenwash’. “The driver in Saudi Arabia and Dubai is very much economic and energy security,” Robin Mills, analyst at Manaar Energy Consulting in the UAE was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. “[The efforts] have quite solid foundations – they are certainly not PR affairs.” While the UAE has announced plans to install 5.6 GW of nuclear power to increase electricity generating capacity, Abu Dhabi has announced plans to generate seven per cent of its capacity from renewables by 2020 while Dubai has set a target of five per cent by 2030. The 100 MW Shams 1 solar project can be seen as an indication of the UAE’s willingness to embrace renewables. Qatar, meanwhile, plans to install 1.8 GW of solar capacity by 2014. A threat to any renewables revolution in the Middle East could come in the form of increased shale oil and gas production. Wouters has gone on record as saying that the exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons in the region is unlikely, however, due to logistical issues and the limited supply of the fresh water required to extract them. If electricity demand slows this could also limit the growth of renewables, but there is little evidence to suggest such a reduction is likely and renewable energy, solar in particular, looks set to play a key role in meeting the region’s future energy needs.
Middle East Electricity 9
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Country Pavilion Profiles
Austrian excellence on display The Austria Pavilion is offering visitors the chance to learn about the latest and most exciting technologies and products that have been developed in Austria and which are now being debuted in the Middle East. We have selected a range of the most exciting exhibitors set to appear on the pavilion with a brief synopsis of the innovative products they will be showcasing. EPRO Gallspach GmbH Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Stand E15 EPRO Gallspach GmbH produces a range of equipment for the high-voltage industry sector. Products include toroidal cores, standard voltage transformers, standard current transformers, test transformers, feed-in-transformers, busbar current meters and cast resin insulators. The main focus of the company’s stand will be the launch of the brand new EPRO measurement system, integrating all tests and measurements in the laboratory or in the factory. All test results are integrated under one system to ease control of the equipment under test (EUT) and to reduce manpower. The system also offers a modern graphical user interface, the option of creating the user’s test routines and the possibility of refitting existing EPRO measurement systems. The system is open to the implementation of further measurements such as turn ratio and PD. Christoph Denk, director of sales and marketing at the company, said, “Our products are quite unique. EPRO supplies the most exact standard transformers and test bay equipment worldwide.”
Isovolta AG Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Stand E12 Isovolta AG is a leading manufacturer of electrical insulation materials, technical laminates and composite materials, focusing on customer-oriented developments, durable products and the commitment to continually improve quality and technology. The company has customers across a range of sectors, including the electrical and electronic industries and the tool-making, sport and leisure industries as well as the automobile, railway, marine and aviation industries. By exhibiting at the show, Isovolta hopes to further expand its activities in the Middle East. The company will be showcasing its electrical insulation materials and pre-pregs for oil-filled transformers, dry-type transformers, traction transformers and instrument transformers up to and including temperature class H. A focal point will also be Isovolta’s electrical insulation materials and pre-pregs for low- and highvoltage electric motors and generators along with mica tapes for fire-resistant cables. The company currently has 18 production and sales locations located in 12 countries across three continents.
PC Electric GmbH
The Austrian Pavilion at Middle East Electricity is located in Hall 1 of the Dubai International Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Schrack Technik GmbH
Hall 1, Stand E28
Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Stand E30
PC Electric GmbH counts itself among the leading firms for the development and production of industrial plugs and sockets, with an export quota of more than 90 per cent. PC Electric, which is ISO 9001:2008 certified, offers an extensive range of high-grade products for a variety of electrical installation applications. Its high-quality products, flexibility and readiness to innovate are the most important factors for the company's customer-oriented strategy. The company is also renowned for its efficient production methods and ordering systems, which result in prompt and reliable delivery times. In recent years, the company has gone through a phase of rapid development and is now one the world's leading suppliers of CEE plugs and sockets in the industry. In addition to the standard products, the company can also produce customerspecific configurations. By exhibiting at Middle East Electricity, the company hopes to acquire new customers in the installation and electrical industries across the MENA region.
Schrack Technik GmbH is a leader in low-voltage energy and data technology systems. The products incorporate the latest technological developments for energy and data distribution boards and low-voltage distributors used in industrial and commercial installations. These devices have proven their reliability as simple distributors in private apartments, as well as distribution systems in hospitals, banks, power plants, machine controls and production lines. Schrack said that by exhibiting at the show, it hopes to attract long-term and binding collaboration agreements with other companies in the region to forge a distribution channel in the Middle East. The company is therefore seeking a distributor who has good contacts within the electrical industry, distributor manufacturers and electrical engineers. Outside Austria, Schrack is present through its subsidiaries in 11 other countries, with partner companies present in 40 countries. Although based mainly in Central Europe, the company intends to expand in to the Middle East.
10 Middle East Electricity
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Country Pavilion Profiles Sprecher Automation GmbH Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Stand E24 Sprecher Automation GmbH develops and provides switchgears and automation solutions, offering a complete product range for automation of high-voltage substations. These include station gateways, bay-control units, combined protection and control units (IED) and visualisation. Sprecher’s uniform hardware and software platform covers the areas of station control, power system protection, telecontrol, power plant control, SCADA and smart grid solutions. Following its recent market entry in Turkey, the company said it is exhibiting at the show to find new partners in the region for sales and solution integration along with showcasing its new platform for substation control and protection. Peter Wach, area sales manager of the company, said, “The difference of Sprecher to the competition (Siemens, ABB, GE, Alstom) is that we use the same hardware platform for different applications. “Sprecher is the leading supplier to electrical utilities in Austria and number two in Germany, with all four major German transmission utilities as customers. “Moreover, Sprecher is active internationally in Central Europe and Russia with more then 1,000 references in substation automation projects with our SPRECON E system and we plan to expand to various countries in the Middle East,” Wach added.
BAUR Prüf-und Messtechnik GmbH Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Stand E18 BAUR Prüf-und Messtechnik GmbH is an expert in the field of high-voltage testing and measurement technology. Its products and services ensure the quality of electrical insulating materials and plant for power supply. The company’s testing and measurement technology prevents damage to networks and systems, allows for accurate planning of investments for maintenance, and locates faults as precisely and quickly as possible. Among the products exhibited by BAUR will be cable fault location systems, which determine failures in cable systems quickly and precisely by means of efficient prelocation and post-location methods. Meanwhile, the company’s cable testing and diagnostics solutions are used for safe testing and confirmed analysis, comprehensive status evaluation, and maintenance planning of cable networks. The company also offers insulating oil testing for the precise analysis of insulating materials, and to protect electrical systems against damage and failure. BAUR customers include power station companies, network operators, public utility companies as well as industrial and service companies around the world.
Benedict GmbH Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Stand E19 EPRO Gallspach GmbH produces a range of equipment for the high-voltage industry sector. Products include toroidal cores, standard voltage transformers, standard current transformers, test transformers, feed-in-transformers, busbar current meters and cast resin insulators. The main focus of the company’s stand will be the launch of the brand new EPRO measurement system, integrating all tests and measurements in the laboratory or in the factory. All test results are integrated under one system to ease control of the equipment under test (EUT) and to reduce manpower. The system also offers a modern graphical user interface, the option of creating the user’s test routines and the possibility of refitting existing EPRO measurement systems. The system is open to the implementation of further measurements such as turn ratio and PD. Christoph Denk, director of sales and marketing at the company, said, “Our products are quite unique. EPRO supplies the most exact standard transformers and test bay equipment worldwide.”
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Feature
Oil giant explores new role The world’s biggest oil producer, Saudi Aramco, is now exploring a whole new business area in power generation and, as a result, is discovering a whole host of opportunities that come with new responsibilities, writes Martin Clark.
S
tate-owned Saudi Arabian oil company, Saudi Aramco is keen to roll-out extra generating capacity not just to ease the nation’s energy crunch, but to guarantee electricity supply to its own huge network of oil and gas facilities and infrastructure up and down the country. With spare upstream crude oil production capacity available for the world market if required, it has allowed the company to take on new projects across the energy spectrum, including more downstream work in refining and petrochemicals, as well as power generation. It is a role that Aramco is being urged to take, with officials increasingly focused on domestic issues, including raising the availability of power supply, utilities and other services for a fast growing economy and a youthful, aspiring population. Getting to grips with the nation’s domestic energy challenges will also take some of the pressure off state power utility Saudi Electricity Corporation (SEC), which is leading a massive roll-out of new generating infrastructure. A growing population means growing consumption, which means the domestic demand for energy could double by 2030, according to some projections. Jizan project Right now, Aramco is moving ahead on a large generation project, worth around US$2bn, that will help supply the 400,000 bpd Jizan refinery, in the Kingdom's southwest. The 2,400 MW power project is to be built to provide 500 MW of electricity to the $7bn
12 Middle East Electricity
Aramco worked on a two-year project to develop a groundbreaking power generation concept at the Berri gas plant.
heavy oil refinery, which is now under construction at a nearby site. The surplus capacity will be available for other downstream and industrial projects to be built at the new Jizan Economic City. Aramco appointed KBR to lead the front-end engineering and design (FEED) work on the new Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) project. The US-based contractor is also working on the associated Jizan refinery project. It is a huge, state-of-the-art undertaking for the oil company and its team. Once complete, it will be the largest gasifierbased power facility built in the world. The IGCC complex will convert vacuum residue to electricity and utilities for industries around the Jazan Economic City and the surrounding region. Aramco's CEO Khalid al-Falih said the refinery and associated infrastructure will be the nucleus for the Jizan economic city and will play a major role in the development of one of the Kingdom’s poorer regions.
distributes electricity and potable water to the surrounding area as well as supplying seawater to industry and treating industrial wastewater. Fast-forward to 2013, and a number of other new projects are now rapidly advancing. At the end of 2012, contractors filed bids for three new Aramco co-generation power and steam plants at Abqaiq, Hawiyah and Ras Tanura. It’s a different and much smaller proposition than Jizan, with a total capacity from all three installations of around 700 MW, but these new projects will collectively propel Aramco into a key - and growing - power sector player in the Saudi Arabian market. At present, the oil company has an estimated 2,000 MW of installed generating power capacity internally, but it sees this rising to over 5,000 MW by 2015 as new projects come onstream. More is likely to follow with Aramco broadening its involvement in all areas of the energy chain.
Growing portfolio The Jizan power project marks a big step up for Aramco in the electricity generation sector, but it is certainly not a one off. In fact, the group’s involvement in the power sector dates back more than a decade with the formation of Marafiq, the power and water utility company for Jubail and Yanbu, back in 2000. This Aramco venture - which groups it with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) - produces and
Renewables interest Naturally that will include some participation in the Kingdom’s high potential, but lightly developed solar and renewables sector. Saudi Aramco president and chief executive Khalid A. al-Falih recently inaugurated a 3.5 MW solar energy field in Riyadh at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC). The solar energy field was built over an area of 55,000 sqm, making it the biggest groundmounted solar installation linked to the
electricity grid in the country. The facility will supply about 5,800 MW hours of electrical energy annually, and offset carbon (CO2) emissions by about 4,900 tonnes every year. The flagship installation, which underscores Saudi Arabia’s immense solar energy potential, uses 12,684 fixed-angle Polycrystalline PV panels provided by Suntech with 14.4 per cent efficiency, and maximum power of 280 watts at standard test conditions. The DC power generated by the panels is collected and inverted to AC power through four inverters. Ahead of this project, Aramco also built the world’s largest solar energy generation unit on a car park roof with a capacity of 10 MW. And in King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, on the Kingdom’s western coast, it has put together another facility with a capacity of 2 MW. These pilot projects puts Aramco in a strong position to exploit other emerging opportunities in the renewable energy segment and understand better the key technologies involved. Innovation The landmark Riyadh solar field also highlights how Aramco’s power business is keen on innovation and breaking new ground, a role it has taken on admirably for years in the oil and gas sector. The potential in the solar sector alone is simply immense. The Kingdom experiences roughly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, emitting about 7,000 watts of energy per sqm, among the
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Feature
The Jizan refinery.
“Smart grids will improve network resilience and reliability and result in energy saving” highest in the world, showing how great the potential for further renewables development. In addition, there are vast open spaces of desert, where large solar farms can be established on relatively cheap real estate. The Kingdom is also blessed with deposits of quartz which can be used in the manufacture of polysilicon and photovoltaic cells. Outside the renewables segment, the company is also exploring innovative new power solutions to safeguard the integrity of its huge oil and gas infrastructure, the lifeblood of the Saudi Arabian economy. In one example, Aramoc worked with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and SEC on a two-year project to develop a groundbreaking power generation concept at the Berri gas plant. The Berri ‘islanding’ system, as it is known, means the plant can continue operating under its own power generation despite interruptions in electricity supply from the utility company. The concept involves isolating the plant and its generators from the local power grid. Previously, any disturbance from the grid could cause a blackout, disrupting operations and causing revenue loss and making flaring necessary. The new system means that plant generators can now withstand any potential disturbance to the power supply. Performance and efficiency It seems Aramco is intent on doing things the right way too, utilising state-of-the-art technology to reach for the best performance.
At a recent industry conference, Ziyad alShiha, executive director of power systems at Aramco, said this meant delivering the very highest levels of performance from all of its generating plant. “We will try to generate the additional power in the most efficient way, reaching efficiency levels of 75 per cent; this is compared with levels of 39 per cent in OECD countries,” he said. Saudi Arabian demand for electricity has increased by about seven to eight per cent annually for the past five years, which means being energy efficient in all areas of the industry is a national priority. It will mark a break from the past, however, with even Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali Naimi flagging up the country’s dismal energy efficiency levels up till now. Even bolstering Aramco’s own power supply capacity could ease the country’s alarming dependence on its own oil for generation. According to some forecasts, the Kingdom may need to burn as much as three million bpd by 2020 to generate power if it doesn’t improve efficiency; the figure may already reach as high as one million bpd, according to some estimates. The growth in local power and water demand is huge, and the investments required are huge. These are big challenges for all concerned, but now Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant is stepping up to the plate to ease at least some of the burden. It is a welcome new participant in such a challenging environment.
Middle East Electricity 13
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Exhibition Map/Workshop Middle East Electricity 2013 Facility Overview
Free to attend workshop hosted by Everblue in Sheikh Maktoum Hall - all visitors are invited to attend
17 - 19 February 2013 | Dubai World Trade Centre
Speaker: John Conde, Everblue
SOLAR MIDDLE EAST WORKSHOP 10.00am
Module 1 – Why Go Solar
• Hardware – modules, racking, inverters
• Energy diversity
• Monitoring
• Reduce reliance on fossil fuels
• Meeting customers needs / desires
• Jobs • Environmental
2.00pm – 2.30pm
BREAK
2.30pm
Module 5 – Incentives
• Investment with predictable returns
• Feed in Tariff (FIT)
• Increase property value
• Net Metering
• Marketing (customer) 11.00am
TUESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2013
• Subsidies
Module 2 – Customer Diagnosis
• Tax Exemptions
• Customer education
• SRECs
• Getting customer interested • What is the goal of going solar
• What will work 3.30pm
• What is the budget
Module 6 - Financing • Solar Purchase
• Is there area for solar – roof or land
• Solar Loan
• What are the customer’s operating costs – reduction?
• Solar Lease
• ROI
• Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
• Property value
• ROI
• Marketing and positive public image
• Community Solar Gardens
• Customer qualified 12:00am
Modules 3 – Site Evaluation
4.30pm
• System break down (equipment, monitoring, etc)
• Pre-visit remote analysis
• Labour costs
• Pre-visit conceptual design
• Maintenance (equipment repair, cleaning modules)
• Who is at the evaluation
• Total System cost (cost/watt)
• Tools
• Incentives
• Purpose
• Final System cost
• Customer needs and wants (verify)
• ROI
• Energy analysis – obtain documents
• Timeline
• Mounting location • Solar resource • Electrical information • Structural information – blue. prints/as built, wind load 1.00pm
Module 4 – System Design • Available space / array layout • Equipment location
14 Middle East Electricity
Module 7 – Proposals
5.30pm
Module 8 – Wrap up
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Photo Gallery
The MEE Gallery A selection of images from across Middle East Electricity 2013 Above: Dubai Municipality showcases solar solutions at the Solar Middle East exhibition. Right: Middle East Electricity provides valuable networking opportunities, as witnessed at Yanmar’s stand. Bottom Left: DEWA CEO and Managing Director, His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, receives his Power Personality of the Year award from Informa Exhibitions CEO Will Morris. Bottom Right: Caterpillar are among the world’s leading power brands that are exhibiting at MEE.
Middle East Electricity 15
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PREVENTION
CURE is better than
Major casualties can be avoided if an effective
fire
preventive
features
are
designed and installed. That’s where Ducab Flam BICC range of cables play a vital role. Designed for laying in metallic conduit or in BS 6387 fire testing in progress at Ducab
cable
trunking
where
electrical
circuit
integrity under fire circumstances is of paramount importance, these cables ensure very low smoke and zero halogen in the event of fire. Ducab has one of the most advanced facilities for manufacturing LPCB approved fire resistant cables and world class quality standards as these cables go through stringent fire tests. Next time you think construction, think Ducab Flam BICC cables!
www.ducab.com DUBAI: P.O. Box 11529, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE. Tel: (+971 4) 815 8888, Fax: (+971 4) 815 8111. ABU DHABI: Tel: +971 2 502 7777, OMAN: Tel: +968 245 651 78, KSA: Tel: +966 3 835 5305, QATAR: Tel: +974 4016 4070, BAHRAIN: Tel: +973 177 497 61, UK: Tel: +44 07919 095500 Email: ducab@ducab.com, sales@ducab.com
SUPERIOR FIRE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:
Reduced Flammability Resistance to fire Low Smoke Emission Zero Halogen