Linxon, a joint venture between leading engineering group SNC-Lavalin and global technology leader ABB, has secured three orders worth $62 million from Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to deliver expansion projects across the kingdom.
The orders include the expansion of the existing Badar substation in Riyadh and additional installation of reactors at Nafal, as well as the expansion and installation of bus reactors at Makkah and Jeddah North East substation, said a statement from Linxon.
In the Eastern region, Linxon will extend the existing 230 kV GIS to provide power supply to the South Ghawar Gas separation plant, helping to increase the country’s usage of natural gas.
Linxon’s scope of work in this project includes reinforcement of the existing substations to install 380 kV and 230 kV GIS breakers, hybrid GIS and reactors.
The installation of equipment for protection, metering, control, and communication is also included alongside related modifications works.
Linxon will also provide design, engineering, materials, procurement, quality management and factory inspection/testing services, as well as managing the transport and delivery of materials to the site.
The installation, construction, site inspection, testing and commissioning activities associated with the work will also be entrusted to Linxon until the final hand-over of the substation extensions, said the statement from Linxon.
Gas-insulated high-voltage switchgear (GIS) is a type of compact switchgear consisting of high-voltage components such as circuit-breakers and disconnectors, which can be safely operated in confined spaces, it stated.
GIS is used where space is limited, for example: in extensions, in city buildings, on roofs, on offshore platforms, in industrial plants and in hydropower plants.
On the project win, Linxon said these fall within the Saudi Electricity Company’s short-term plan to improve the stability of the network in the various stations.
Linxon commenced operations on September 1, 2018, undertaking turnkey electrical alternating current substation projects related to renewable and conventional power generation, power transmission and transportation solutions.
Substations enable the efficient and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity. Within the substation, switchgear controls and protects the network from power outages and facilitates reliable electricity supply.
