JEDDAH: ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth $53 million from Najran University, Saudi Arabia's biggest educational institution, for a substation to help ensure reliable power supplies for the campus. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2010. ABB will be responsible for the design, supply, instalation and commissioning of a 380 kV (kilovolt) substation capable of distributing power at 132 kV and 13.8 kV. The turnkey order includes civil works and auxiliary systems as well as gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), transformers, protection equipment and substation automation. "This substation will help meet the growing demand for electricity and support the expansion of Najran University" said Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division. "ABB's compact GIS technology will ensure reliability and at the same time minimize the substation footprint." The university is located in Najran, a city in the south of Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 2006 and covers an area of 18 million square meters. The university complex will house two campuses including 25 colleges with an overall capacity of 45,000 students. It will also host administrative buildings, a medical city, a research center, sports facilities and housing accommodation for faculty, staff and students. Substations are key installations in the power grid. They transform voltage levels and 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, with more than 10,000 installations worldwide covering a range of voltage levels up to 1,100 kV. 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 124,000 people.
