ABB to automate generation at iconic Aswan hydropower plants in Egypt

2011-10-31

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, will upgrade the automation of the Aswan hydropower plants, making the power generation more reliable and efficient. The order was booked in the third quarter.

The order is worth over $20 million and was awarded by the Hydro Plants Generation Company (HPGC) to provide extensive plant automation and control solutions for the Aswan hydropower complex in Egypt as part of a major plant rehabilitation program.

The hydropower complex which is located at the Aswan dam, is the largest in Africa and the third-largest in the world by water reservoir volume. Located some 900 kilometers south of the capital, Cairo, the plants were built between 1960 and 1986 to harness the flood waters of the river Nile for irrigation and power generation purposes.

"We are proud to be associated with the comprehensive upgrade of one of the world’s largest hydropower complexes,” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “The benefits of the refurbishment should be seen in the form of optimized performance and reliability, improved operator effectiveness and energy efficiency.”

The complex comprises three hydropower plants with a generation capacity of more than 2,600 megawatt and provides 10 percent of Egypt’s power generation capacity.

As part of the turnkey project, ABB will supply a new integrated plant automation solution including the latest Symphony Plus technology, instrumentation, transformer and generator protection systems, turbine governor systems and electro-hydraulic equipment at one of the plants. ABB will also upgrade selected control and excitation systems, automatic voltage regulators, turbine governor systems and electro-hydraulic equipment.

The electrical protection systems for the 132 kilovolt substation that connects the power generated at the plant to the transmission grid will also be upgraded. ABB is responsible for engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning.

ABB (www.abb.com) 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 130,000 people.