Power and automation technology group ABB has won an order worth about $17 million to extend an existing substation at the Yanbu power plant in Saudi Arabia, the company reported.

The order was granted by Hanwha Engineering & Construction Corp of Korea. Yanbu, is a major Red Sea port in the Al Madinah province of western Saudi Arabia, located approximately 350 km north of Jeddah.

Extending the gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation will enable the integration of additional power capacity from two new generation blocks of the Yanbu steam power plant, which is owned and operated by the regional power and water utility, Marafiq. The new blocks will generate an additional 500 MW of electricity, raising the plant’s total output to around 1,500 MW. The project is scheduled for completion
by 2012.

ABB will design, supply, install and commission the extension of the existing 380/115 kV substation. Key products to be supplied include high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear, a range of circuit breakers and control, protection and telecommunication equipment.

"The extension of this substation will facilitate the efficient and reliable integration of additional power to help meet the growing demand for electricity from industrial and residential customers," said Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABB’s substation business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. "Our extensive experience in Saudi Arabia and knowledge of the power network, combined with our technology strengths will be key advantages in the execution of this project."

Substations are key installations in the power grid that facilitate the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. They include equipment that protects and controls the flow of electrical power. ABB is the world’s leading supplier of air- and gas-insulated substations covering a range of voltage levels up to 1,100 kV.

ABB says it enables utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 130,000 people.