Alstom to construct gas-insulated substation for 3GW wind farm in Egypt

The Alstom Grid along with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) has been selected to manufacture and deliver a gas-insulated substation (GIS) worth EUR12m ($14.9m) for the Gabal El-Zayt wind farm.

The onshore Gabal El-Zayt wind farm located on the Gulf of Suez covering an area of 625km2 is expected to produce a planned capacity of 3GW of clean energy by 2020.

Alstom is developing the GIS to transfer all the generated energy from the wind farm to the electricity network.

Alstom Grid Western Europe and Africa regional vice-president Jean-Pierre Faure said, "Delivering our GIS technology to the Gabel
El-Zayt wind farm and renewing our collaboration with EETC further establishes Alstom Grid’s commitment to support Egypt’s renewal goal and the growing regional electricity needs."

The nature of work that Alstom Grid will be responsible for, under the contract, includes civil works, providing 11 GIS Bays of 220kv, 43 Medium Voltage GIS Switchgear, two power transformers of 125MVA, and , Automation and Telecommunication systems.

Alstom Grid is also offering solutions to increase the availability of the substation and improve the reliability of the power supply.

The substation is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2013.

The project is financed by the German Bank for Reconstruction and the wind farm is expected to help Egypt reach its goal of a 7% annual capacity increase in overall energy production.