Saudi Gazette report

DUBAI — The focus in Saudi Arabia is shifting towards sustainable, reliable and efficient energy. With the demand the Riyadh Metro will experience on a daily basis, this will bring additional demand for a reliable and efficient power supply, said Frank Ackland, Middle East General Manager, while expounding how Eaton ME is positioned to help with its power management products. Here’s the excerpts of his interview with Saudi Gazette.

SG: Can you please elaborate about Eaton’s contribution to the biggest transport project in KSA —the Riyadh Metro?

A: Eaton has won a project to provide medium and low voltage switchgear and full-range of Emergency Lighting Solutions to the Riyadh Metro’s main command control center. The Riyadh Metro Transport Project, owned and operated by Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), is expected to be the largest urban transport system ever been created from scratch. The Metro will be the backbone of the city’s infrastructure and one of the most technically advanced in the region. The new network, currently under construction, will comprise of six metro lines that connect 85 stations and span nearly 110 miles of track. A new bus system is being built and implemented simultaneously. Eaton has installed medium voltage (MV) Switchgear and Neutral Grounding resistor, low voltage (LV) switchgear, control gears, busway and safety switches.

Eaton has also provided the full-range of emergency lighting solutions for the iconic project in Riyadh. We have been awarded all the central power systems to power and monitor all emergency lighting inside the stations for the complete three lines. We have also secured (and partially supplied) all Emergency & Safety luminaries inside the Riyadh Metro Station and all handrail luminaries in the viaduct and at-grade sections outside the stations of the same three lines. This constitutes to more than 13,000 luminaries.

SG: Could you please tell us more about the energy efficiency solutions that Eaton is providing to this project?

A: The focus in Saudi Arabia is shifting towards sustainable, reliable and efficient energy. With the demand the Metro will experience on a daily basis, this will bring additional demand for a reliable and efficient power supply. Our power management products, Medium Voltage and Low Voltage switchgear are compact and energy efficient, ideal for such complex projects such as the Riyadh Metro. They are more compact, air and epoxy-resin insulated and generally equipped with vacuum circuit breakers and load break switches. Decentralizing energy distribution saves money during installation and operation. Bundles of low-voltage cables are replaced by a single medium-voltage cable running to M2L distribution stations. This design is space saving, maintenance friendly and prevents line losses thus saving energy.

SG: What are the major regional trends affecting the energy storage landscape and how are they transforming the markets?

A: The global energy market is undergoing a low-carbon transformation, with grid-scale battery-based technologies providing reliable alternatives to traditional peaking power plants and pumped hydroelectric storage projects. Across the world, power station upgrades are starting to deliver a dependable and cost-competitive means of balancing load and bringing renewable energy onto the networks.

The battery-based energy storage systems are proving highly desirable because they provide utilities companies with ultra-fast response balancing services to the electric grid. Also, their modular nature means they represent a truly scalable design solution. Such is the potential for the technology that around 11 GW of energy storage capacity are expected to be installed by 2020 across 22 countries, according to Navigant Research.

Energy storage systems are becoming crucial components in the development of smarter grids. Eaton and Nissan have for example finalized a deal with Amsterdam Energy Arena to implement one of Europe's largest energy storage systems used in a commercial building. The partners are developing and implementing a large energy storage system at the car park of the Amsterdam ArenA stadium with a minimum capacity of 3 megawatts that can be upscaled when needed. The energy storage system functions as an emergency power supply, capturing peaks in energy demand and will ensure stability in the regular energy network. It helps with strong changes in power generation as well as delivery — including more than 4,000 solar panels currently on the stadium roof.

The Eaton/Nissan xStorage Building System will be built using a combination of used and new EV battery packs — The implementation of the first xStorage system is in progress. Eaton recently also became the official home energy storage partner of Manchester City Football Club in the UK.

The partnership marks the launch of a limited edition of Eaton’s xStorage Home, one of the most reliable and affordable residential energy storage systems on the market today. Using Eaton’s leading power quality technology and electronics combined with second life or new electric vehicle (EV) batteries from vehicle manufacturer Nissan, the system will offer customers greater energy independence and control.

The technology enables customers to increase their use of renewable energy and lower energy bills by up to fifty percent. When connected to residential power supply and/or renewable energy sources, the unit helps save money on electricity bills by charging up when renewable energy is available or energy is cheaper and releasing that stored energy when demand and costs are high. The system works optimally when used alongside solar panels — storing energy when the sun is shining and releasing it when needed to give users a greater return on their solar investment.

As the region continues to ramp up its goals of meeting renewable energy targets, energy storage becomes a strong contender in dealing with energy demand, efficiency and sustainability.

SG: What are Eaton's power management plans and strategies for Saudi region in 2018?

A: Eaton will continue to develop, evolve and push through our products throughout the region. Our strategy in 2018 will be to have a clear focus on the areas of business where we have clear market differentiation. The focus in Saudi Arabia is shifting towards sustainable, reliable and efficient energy. With the population is growing at a rapid rate and this will bring additional demand for a reliable and efficient power supply.

To support this, we have seen a growing interest in energy storage, which helps to manage both grid stability, as renewable energy sources continue to be integrated into the grid, as well as peak demand, limiting the need to build dedicated peaking power plants and minimizing CO2 emissions. Eaton has a long track record of working with its customers to automate, protect and optimize a secure, cost-effective electrical grid. On the Channels front, we are working on demand generation activities through better brand visibility and promotions. Eaton is also working diligently on driving specification with key consultants, government authorities and utilities.

SG: Other than the Riyadh Metro, any upcoming projects in Saudi Arabia?

A: Eaton has a long and successful association in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the 1970’s and has grown its footprint ever since. With over 50 employees spread across the country from Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Dammam, we opened a manufacturing plant in Dammam in 2009, where we produce B-Line and Crouse Hind solutions. Eaton is providing critical power management solutions and services in support of some of the most high profile projects in the Kingdom, including the construction of one of the world’s largest integrated chemical facilities by Sadara Chemical Company.

Our growth was fueled by Oil and Gas, construction and data centers where we have delivered power management solutions for high-profile customers including Saudi Aramco and Jeddah Airport. The team in Saudi Arabia was awarded an $8.9m order for King Fahd Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh, the largest NEMA order in the region in 10 years. Eaton is the only manufacturer in the world who can supply this particular solution under one brand name and meet the hospital’s ANSI/NEMA specification.

Eaton is working closely with a number of organizations across the country, providing solutions across various sectors including Life Safety. Our life safety division is one of the most consistent performing business units in the region. Every year we see growth and this is not only a result of the increase in awareness around the need for life safety in buildings, as well as the willingness to source the most effective solutions in the market. We are excited by the Saudi governments plans for the future and Vision 2030, developing public sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.

We work in a fast-paced market, which has seen, and will continue to see, significant changes. We must always ensure we are working closely with our customers and partners to understand the needs to the market and how Eaton can support the demand for power that these changes bring.