The concept of electrical interconnection
was raised by the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) in early 80s to ensure security and
stability of their local electrical networks.
Technical and economical studies for
feasibility were conducted during mid 80s
to justify the requirements and benefits.
Brief History
• Initiation – Early 80’s
• Committee formed – 1986
• First Detailed Study – 1990
• Authority established by Royal Decree - 2001
• • Second Study – 2003
• GCC Joint Ministerial committee meeting in Kuwait allowed ‘Go Ahead’ - 2004
Pre-Construction
• Tendering & Adjudication - 2005
• Contracts Awarded for : - Construction (2005) - Org. Develop (2005) - Legal (2006)
• Preliminary ROW Survey (Land) - 2004
• Sea Survey Contract 2004
• Recruitment Process
Construction • Regulation • Systems
Operations
• System Maintenance
• Training
• Market Operations
Operations
Summary of Activities
Established in July 2001 by Royal Decree No. M/21
Owned by the six GCC Countries the authorized share capital is ($US 1,407,000,000) divided into (1,407,000) shares of ($US 1,000)
each share.
The Authority is managed by a (twelve member) Board of Directors; each member country is represented by two members. The Chairmanship is rotated among the member states every three years.
The primary objective of the Authority is to: link up the power grids of the six GCC countries operate and maintain the interconnection become a leading player in the regional electricity market
About GCC Interconnection Authority
2014 GCC total installed capacity is about 110 GW with peak demand of 100 GW
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Qatar
UAE
Oman
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Qatar
UAE
Oman
Contribution by country to GCC peak demand
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
BAHRAIN
U.A.E.
EMIRATES NATIONAL GRID
AL FOUHAH 220kV 220kV
AL FADHILI 400kV
JASRA 400kV GHUNAN
400 kV
600MW
SALWA 400kV
SALWA 400kV
QATAR
1200 MW
90km 90km
DOHA SOUTH SUPER 400kV DOHA SOUTH SUPER 400kV
290km 290km
150km 150km
SILAA 400kV 400kV
1400 MW
OMAN
OMAN NORTHERN
GRID
MHADAH
220 kV
400MW
52km
112km
100km 100km
KUWAIT
AL ZOUR 400kV
AL ZOUR 400kV
310km
1200
MW SAUDI ARABIA
SEC - ERB
HVDC
BACK - TO - BACK
1200MW
Country
(Arabic Alphabetical Order) Percentage%
United Arab Emirates 15.40
Kingdom of Bahrain 9.00
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 31.60
Sultanate of Oman 5.60
State of Qatar 11.70
State of Kuwait 26.70 TOTAL 100.00
Total
The value of the awarded contracts to the six contractors are as follows:
$251,705,956
$217,451,173
$310,300,246
$343,122,125
$34,546,981
Actual Value
$17,901,497
ABB
Areva-Cogelex
NCC & MEEDCO
Prysmian-Nexans
Areva-Cogelex
Contractor
SNC-Lavalin
Substations
HVDC
OHL
Cable
Control
Lots
Supervision
$1,175,027,978
10
Contracts Value for Phase I
Project Timeframe
The Project timeframe for the Phase I Interconnection Project is as follows:
Event Date
Project Commissioning Year 2009
Tendering Period
Bid Evaluation
Pre-Award Meetings
April 2005
May-August 2005
September 2005
Contract Award Ceremonies
Project Construction Commencement
November 2005
December 2005
Total
The value of the awarded three(3) contracts are as follows:
$ 69,104,000
$ 43,718,000
$ 5,611,105
Actual Value
NCC Transmission Line Group
NCC Substation Group
Areva-Cogelex
Contractor
OHL
Substation
Control
Contract No
$118,433,105
12
Contracts Value for Phase III
Project Timeframe
The Project timeframe for the Phase III Project is as follows:
Contract Award
Completion Date
Salwa (KSA) to Silla (UAE) Transmission Line
August 2008
March 2011
Date
Contract Award
Completion Date
July 2009
May 2011
Contract Award November 2009
Silla (UAE) 400 KV Substations Date
Control, Protection and Telecommunication Date
Completion Date May 2011
GCC Ministerial Committee
GCCIA Board of Directors
GCCIA - CEO
General Agreement
PETA
E & W Ministerial Committee Level
General Assembly & Board Level
GCC Utilities Level
Articles / Bylaws
Planning Committee
Operating Committee
Advisory & Regulatory Committee
Transmission & Metering Codes
Member States
Utilities 14
Overall Framework
First Energization : 17 Feb 2009
Synchronized Operations
26th July 2009
Kuwait – Qatar Synchronized
20th July 2009
UAE Synchronized
24th July 2011
Oman and UAE interconnected
end of 2011
Since the 1st day of the operational phase for GCC Interconnection, the security and reliably of the overall interconnected network is highly enhanced
Over 1200 incidents were recoded on the overall interconnected network that range from single generator tripping up to 3000 MW with no impact on system security
GCC Interconnection helped to avoid partial or total blackout during some of the critical incidents for some of the MS grids
• Harmonization of Policies and Procures has been achieved through Operation Committee and Panning Committee
• Both committees meet on quarterly basis where all GCC TSOs representatives meet and discuss the common interest
Policies and Procures Harmonization
Installation of PMU and Power Performance System
• GCCIA installed PMUs network that covers all the GCCIA substations with master station at ICC for accurate analysis of system incidents
• this system avails a real time centralized collection of PMUs information which enables GCCIA to implement a Wide Area Monitoring (WAM) system to have real time visualization of the status of operation of the power system
Integration of all substation systems is also achieved through the implementation of substation automation through the introduction of the PACiS Integrated Control System (ICS) with bidirectional communication to EMS SCADA
The ICC is connected to all MSs NCCs through Inter-Control Center Communications Protocol (ICCP/TASE.2) that provides data exchange over wide area networks (WANs) between control centers on real time basis
19
EMS and DCS Systems
Redundant PACiS
Gateways
EMS SCADA
IEC104
ALSTOM
MiCOM C264 I/O P633 Transformer Diff
Protection
Redundant Ring
SBUS IEC61850
Utility SCADA
System
ICP Link
Existing
Substation
Fiber Optic Opportunity
GCCIA engaged in utilizing the OPGW fibre optic cable which is part of the transmission line and land & submarine cable
The cable consists of 96 fibres; in which 24 fibres will be reserved for electrical power uses and the remaining 72 fibres can be used for future applications
Currently negotiating with major telecommunication providers for the leasing and usage of the remaining fibres.
Although the energy trading has commenced between two of GCC counties during summer 2010, the utilization of the interconnection for energy trading is low
Major Challenges that limit the energy trading includes subsidies and Regulatory issues
Energy Trading
Establishing The Interconnection
2005-2011
Initiating a GCC Power Market
2010-2020
Initiating a GCC Power Market
2010-2020
Beyond the GCC Power Market 20120-2025
Beyond the GCC Power Market 20120-2025
Future Prospects Future Prospects
EJLIST
UCTE
East
Arab Maghreb GCC
24
Future Prospects
Thank you