July 2, 2009 - ABB won an order worth $170 million from the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) of Bahrain for substations to help meet the growing demand for electricity and support economic development. The order was booked in the second quarter. ABB will design, supply, install and commission 11 new GIS (gas-insulated switchgear) substations and expand four existing substations by the end of 2011. ABB will supply high-voltage switchgear, including GIS, medium-voltage switchgear, cables, as well as substation automation that is fully compliant with the IEC 61850 international standard for communication and data handling, ensuring numerous electronic substation devices can interoperate.
“ABB’s substations will help to enhance the reliability and efficiency of power supplies in the area and the grid as a whole,” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “Our technologies and project execution experience will play an important role.”ABB has completed three similar substation projects for EWA, Bahrain's leading power and water utility. Substations are key installations in the transmission and distribution grid that transform voltage levels and distribute electricity.
GIS substations have a compact footprint, and are ideally suited for locations where space is limited.ABB has a global installed base of over 10,000 substations, at voltage levels up to 800 kV. ABB is a global leader in gas-insulated switchgear products, and has introduced a number of new technologies in the sector, such as synchronous controlled switching and remote real-time condition monitoring. ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people.