Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded a contract worth € 3.4 million to Avantha Group Company Crompton Greaves (CG) for supplying ZIV three phase smart meters.
SEC has been planning to deploy smart grids for a while by defining a new functionality and a new data model for the performance of the smart meters.
Interoperability, remote management and accuracy are the three key features of these smart meters provided by CG.
These smart meters will be connected to current transformers and will communicate through modem (GPRS).
It is expected that, the small-commerce end users will be the first one to replace the meters with new smart ones.
SEC’s strategy is focused on implementing the Government’s policy for the development of the electricity sector in the Kingdom.
The primary objective of this smart meter implementation by SEC is providing a reliable and cost-efficient supply of electricity to end-users.
CG’s attempt has been to adapt ZIV smart meters to the particular functionalities as demanded by SEC and to collaborate in the definition of the optimal systems for the deployment of smart grid solutions in Saudi Arabia.
With this project, CG has become a key provider in the global smart grid market with customers such as Iberbrola, Gas Natural Fenosa in Spain, EDP in Portugal and ERDF in France, totaling around 60 Million Euros in this financial year.
The Saudi electricity market, which is the largest in the Arab world, recorded a peak load of 53,864 MW in 2013.
In future, the demand for electricity is predicted to increase by an average rate of 7 – 8 percent, driven by growing population, rising per capita consumption and expanding industrial base.
Under the ZIV brand, CG has built its competitive strategy in the development of smart grid solutions, based on its own technology, and a unique mix of technical knowhow in protection, control, communications and metering technologies.
Furthermore, CG has broadened the coverage of its smart grid portfolio with a catalogue of Distribution Automation Solutions that range from LV supervision to MV automation, including Overhead MV Line Automation, Compact Secondary Substations and Micro-grid Management and Electric Vehicle Charging Systems.
Sabeena Wahid
[email protected]