< PreviousKNOWLEDGE PARTNER 30 Utilities Middle East / September 2020 www.utilities-me.com In an eff ort to combat future water scar- city GCC countries are increasing their investment into water and wastewater infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates is widely recog- nised as a leader in the development of water production and treatment. In late Septem- ber 2017 the UAE unveiled its Water Security Strategy 2036 which seeks to ensure sustain- able access to water during both normal and emergency conditions. The strategy aims to: reduce the total Other countries at the forefront of water and wastewater investment include Saudi Arabia and Oman. Saudi Arabia recently announced new water projects, worth a reported $1.3bn, in an eff ort to boost local water production and distribution. Of particular note is the Rabigh 3 IWP proj- ect which will be a 600,000 cubic metres per day (m3/d) reverse osmosis seawater desali- nation plant, expandable to 1,200,000m3/d. The Kingdom is also seeking to develop the Shuqaiq 3 IWP which will have a capacity of demand for water resources by 21%; increase the water productivity index to $110 per cubic meter; reduce the water scarcity index by three degrees; increase the reuse of treated water to 95%; and increase national water storage capacity up to two days. In line with this strategy, the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority announced plans in December 2017 to tender for the eagerly anticipated Taweelah IWP, which is expected to have a capacity of 760,000 cubic metres per day (m3/d). NEW APPROACH The private sector is increasingly playing a key role in fi nancing new desalination projects around the world Private participation in water and wastewater development. Winston & Strawn Partner Jim Simpson and Associate Chris Shelton show how the GCC experience can be applied elsewhere in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) region BACKING FUTURE PROJECTSKNOWLEDGE PARTNER www.utilities-me.com September 2020 / Utilities Middle East 31 w 380,000 m3/d, and the Yanbu 4 IWP which will have a capacity of 450,000 m3/d. In the wastewater sector Saudi’s National Water Company has appointed a Mizuho- led consortium on the procurement of a wastewater treatment projects. The consor- tium will advise on three projects in Jeddah, Dammam, and the Northern Border region. Oman is also aggressively pursuing invest- ment into the water sector, with the Oman Power and Water Procurement Com- pany (OPWP) projecting water demand to increase at a rate of 5% a year to 2023, from 746,000m3/d in 2016 to 1.1 million m3/d by 2023. In February 2018, OPWP issued a request for qualifi cations for the Ghubrah III IWP, which will be located next to the exist- ing Ghubrah II IWP in the Muscat region. The plant will have a capacity of 300,000m3/d and is expected to be operational in 2022. Traditionally GCC countries have focused on large scale power and water desalination projects, through the IWPP (independent water and power project) model. One of the most recent success stories to incorporate private participation is the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority’s Mirfa IWPP which achieved commercial operation in Novem- ber 2017. Despite the success of the IWPP model, we are increasingly seeing a shift from IWPPs to stand alone IWPs (independent water projects). This can largely be attributed to a number of factors, including, a focus of renewable energy, advances in technology such as reverse osmosis becoming more effi - cient and cheaper, and an increased capac- ity on the grid (especially in the United Arab Emirates due to the imminent completion of Abu Dhabi’s fi rst commercial nuclear power plant unit). Of particular note is Oman’s IWP programme which saw three projects reach fi nancial close in 2016. These included the Sohar IWP (250,000m3/d), Barka IWP (280,000 m3/d) and Quurayyat IWP (200,000m3/d). Each of these projects included private participation at the spon- sor and fi nancing levels. Other IWPs in Oman include the Salalah IWP, Sharqiyah IWP and Duqm IWP. IWPs currently under consid- eration include the Khasab IWP and Wadi Dayqah IWP. The GCC’s ability to mobilise private par- ticipation, as demonstrated by its IWPPs and IWPs, can be exported to the wider META region through fi ve fundamental pillars: • A clear, fair and consistent indepen- dent regulatory regime: The GCC experi- ence demonstrates the benefi t of having a clear and consistent independent reg- ulatory regime built to respect political realities, facilities private investment, and ensure fair regulatory oversight for both the public and private sectors. • A transparent procurement process: A transparent procurement process is essential to encourage market partici- pation. Project procurement should be by reference to specifi c non-discrimi- natory criteria and open to appropriate public scrutiny. For example, the open- ing of fi nancial bids should be on a bid submission date and should take place in public. • A well-structured and consistent con- tractual template: It is also important for projects to be well-structured and follow contractual templates that eff ec- tively deliver bankable projects while not requiring extensive reworking for each new development. • Stability and strength of off -take arrangements: The key to a successful project seeking to encourage private participation is ensuring there is a bank- able contractual structure. The con- tracts should ensure a source of revenue over a tenor which is suffi cient to ensure repayment of the project fi nance loan and provide returns to investors. In this respect the careful selection of cred- itworthy counterparties is one of a number of critical factors which will determine the bankability of a project. This may involve governments being required to provide payment and/or ter- mination guarantees. • Making use of the multitude of fi nancing sources: Projects in the GCC have been able to mobilise and leverage all possi- ble fi nancing resources, from domes- tic capabilities to multilateral partners. These have included export credit agen- cies, multilateral fi nancing institutions, development fi nance institutions and political risk insurances providers. All these sources are likely to be vital for the development of projects throughout the META region. Power projects and water and wastewa- ter projects tend to share a number of similar features, such as project structure, risk allo- cation regime and contractual documenta- tion. However, in order for a water or waste- water project to be successful, specifi c fea- tures unique to those projects will need to be considered. For instance, wastewater proj- ects will typically feature “all or nothing” completion requirements and novel techni- cal considerations. Financing considerations may also diff er due to, amongst others, lower capital costs and a variable input (infl uent) as opposed to a steady fuel supply found in power projects. The GCC’s ability to successfully engage private participation in their water and wastewater sectors has created a bankable blueprint that can be exported to other parts of the META region. As countries seek to guar- antee their future water security and waste- water infrastructure, it is broadly expected that this blueprint will be exported through- out the META region. Traditionally GCC counties have focused on large scale power and water desalination projects, through the IWPP One of the most recent success stories to incorporate private participation is the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority’s Mirfa IWPP which achieved commercial operation in November 2017.»PRODUCTS 32 Utilities Middle East / September 2020 www.utilities-me.com — TXpand Rupture resistant transformer solutions Minimizes environmental impact Enhances safety Cost efficient impact Rupture resistant transformer tank expands absorbing energy from faults In case of unpredictable failures ABB TXpandTM: A new trans- former technology that en- hances safety for people and the environment PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY ABB’s latest innovation enables power transformer tanks to avoid rupture by expanding and absorbing energy during a major fault, protecting personnel, substations and the environment Transformers are rigid and strong assem- blies. But when extreme pressure builds up inside the electrical equipment, it can, in rare cases, lead to tank rupture, becoming a serious safety and environmental hazard. TXpandTM is a comprehensive solution that makes transformers more secure, similar to how crumple zones in cars redis- tribute the force of a collision and protect passengers. The technology is based on extensive analysis and modelling. It is built to make the most rigid areas within a transformer fl exible, the weakest ones stronger and include rupture points – to control the most unpredictable failures. Dry bushings and a conservator shutter valve complete these protective measures in addition to standard features such as pressure relief devices. ABB TXpandTM was developed in close partnership with Hydro Quebec, a Canadian utility with over 2,000 power transformers in operation reaching up to 765 kilovolts (kV). The concept was jointly tested at the utility’s facilities, creating a unique reference in the industry. A 200 mega-volt-ampere 330 kV trans- former tank was put to one of the harshest internal overpressure conditions in trans- formers connected to networks of up to 765 kV. Air was injected at 200 times the standard atmospheric pressure, equiva- lent to a major internal fault. It released 20 mega joules of energy. The test was successful. The tank ex- panded and absorbed the energy exactly as predicted, validating the concept of turning potential safety hazards into man- ageable events. It can protect the environ- ment by preventing oil spills and pollution. “Computer simulations still need valida- tion and the value of the full-scale real-life test on the TXpandTM technology proves it as a risk mitigation solution,” said Kr- zysztof Kulasek, Global Product Manager, ABB Transformers. “Power transformers, today, are safer to operate thanks to TXpandTM. The technology is an example of cooperation between manufacturers and users, applying innovation, technology and know-how to enhance reliability and safety of critical systems.” CK Atronik Rotork has increased the versatility of the CK range of modular electric valve actuators with the introduction of the CK Atronik, an intermediate level integral control option, pro- viding a ready-to-operate actuation solution to meet the standard requirements of many plant specifi cations. The CK Atronik control module houses a reversing contactor starter with mechanical and electrical interlocking, a proven and reli- able Rotork design for electric actuation. Con- nection to a suitable power supply is all that is required for local operation of the actuator. Digital microprocessor driven functionality delivers reliable motor control for isolating, regulating or modulating valve duties. Con- fi guration is simply achieved with on-board dual in-line switches. Integral local control se- lectors are provided, together with clear LED status indication of valve open, valve closed, valve moving and alarm. Mechanical valve position indication is also provided on the actuator gearcase. Options include analogue control for positioning, analogue feedback, additional relay and network bus connectivity. All CK modular actuators are environ- mentally sealed to IP68 (8 metres for 96 hours) as standard for long-term reliability in harsh operating conditions. Plug and socket connections for power, control and between modules assist swift site wiring and maintenance. Manual handwheel operation is independent of the motor drive and selected with a lockable hand / auto lever acting on a safe, low speed clutch. The CK Atronik control module houses a reversing con- tactor starter with mechanical and electrical interlocking The CK Atronik control module houses a reversing contactor starter with mechanical and electrical interlocking PRODUCT OF THE MONTH TXpandTM is a comprehensive solution that makes transformers more securePRODUCTS www.utilities-me.com September 2020 / Utilities Middle East 33 PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY The Mita Pitch System is a fl exible pitch solution for turbines up to 12 MW Mita-Teknik, a global provider of wind turbine control and pitch technology, an- nounced today the launch of its new gener- ation of blade pitch system for onshore and offshore wind turbines. The new Mita Pitch System has been designed to effectively minimize O&M costs, reduce downtime and improve productivity. The Mita Pitch System is a fl exible pitch solution for turbines up to 12 MW, which boasts a design life of 30 years. It has been designed to maximize the availability and performance of wind turbines, while applying minimum loads to the structure. High availability is ensured by fast commis- sioning, a Built-In-Self-Test scheme for on-the-fl y evalu- ation, simple maintenance procedures, and digitaliza- tion. Digitalization is an asset created by integrated CMS and intelligent algorithms collecting data of high ac- The Mita Pitch System curacy and veracity, providing the valuable data insights needed to support operation and maintenance planning. The system features a modular pitch de- sign with integrated drives, based on various standardized sizes of Hub Units, Blade Units, brushless PM Servo Motors, Asynchronous Servo Motors as well as energy storage based on either ultracapacitors or long life VRLA batteries. It is designed as an open system allowing OEMs to integrate their own software in the hub controller. The Mita Pitch System is the result of thousands of engineering hours and it underwent an extensive quality test pro- cedure, explains Thomas Andersen, CTO at Mita- Teknik: “The high quality of this product comes from a mix of excellent engineer- ing, top-shelf components and thorough testing procedures. Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, has made a signifi cant step in advancing cable technology to enable more effi cient, reli- able and eco-friendly power transmission over long distances. After completing one-year qualifi cation testing in accordance with international standards, the Group introduces two new 525 kV extruded land cable systems, one qualifi ed with P-Laser and one with XLPE insula- tion. These cable systems are designed at a higher voltage level and with large conductor cross-sections to provide optimal technical solutions for long distance high power transmission with minimized land use. P-Laser is the fi rst 100% Prysmian P-Laser for reliable power transmission recyclable eco-friendly high-performance cable technology, utilising a ‘zero-gas’ pro- cess which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30%. P-Laser is fully compatible with existing HVDC cables and accessories and has over 30,000 km manufacturing experience in other types of power cable networks. The P-Laser qualifi ed cable system employs a Prysmian in-house developed material, called HPTE (High Performance Thermoplas- tic Elastomer) with proven enhanced characteristics, name- ly increased thermal performance, higher intrinsic reliability and greater productivity, making it the best solution for HVDC transmission lines. P-Laser is the first 100% recyclable eco-friendly high-performance cable technology Honeywell MAXPRO Honeywell has announced a first-of- its-kind technology integration with Intel that will enable new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in its MAX- PRO® connected security platform. The new security platform, which will support MAXPRO Network Video Re- corders (NVR) and Video Management Systems (VMS), will incorporate Intel® Vision products that enable advanced analytics, deep learning and facial recognition capabilities. These greatly enhanced security solutions will drive cost and time savings by significantly reducing false alarms. “Ensuring the security of commercial buildings and the safety of those within them has always been Honeywell’s top priority, and as a leader in the sector, we are well positioned to do so,” said Fahmi Jabri, general manager for Hon- eywell’s Commercial Security business, Middle East, Turkey and Africa. “With emerging technology like analytics, facial recognition and deep learning, Honeywell and Intel are connecting buildings and protecting people like never before.” Advances in security and surveil- lance technology have increased demand for high-definition video and imaging offered by Internet Protocol (IP) cameras. The video surveillance global market is estimated to exceed $68 billion by 2023. AI technology accelerates video pro- cessing power and improves detection Enhancing site security and operator productivity Flexible pitch solution for turbines up to 12MW Utilising a ‘zero-gas’ process which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30%The ongoing coronavirus crisis has under- scored our deep dependence on digiti- zation and modern technologies. Under the COVID-19 lockdown, smart technologies have enabled us to continue to work, learn and shop from the safety of our home. The coronavirus pandemic changed consumers’ energy pro- fi les overnight and amplifi ed the importance of continuous, uninterrupted electric supply for essential services and for nearly every business sector to keep running. The utilities sector is still on the periphery of digitization that has disrupted other sectors, such as telecommunications and banking. Util- ities have historically under-invested in infor- mation technology (IT), focusing instead on the operations technologies that enable their core business of generating, transmitting and distrib- uting power. The change has been slow in coming, but util- ities are now waking up to consumers’ demand for smart, interactive services. Along the way, they are identifying many potential benefi ts of smart technology, not just to the increasingly sophisticated customer, but to their own busi- ness. Enter: the smart grid. While there is much progress still to be made until smart grids and utilities reach their poten- tial across the MENA region, the opportunity is just as large. Investment in smart grids is rising globally, spurred by an increasing acknowledgement Final Word Covid-19 has highlighted the critical importance of smart grids says Johnny Ayoub, Senior VP at Booz Allen Hamilton amongst utilities of smart grid benefi ts, along with government mandates for energy effi ciency and grid reliability. According to market research and consul- tancy fi rm, Navigant Research, smart grid IT soft- ware and services are expected to generate US$17.1 billion in revenue in 2024 up from US$8.5 bil- lion a decade earlier. With rising investments in the fi eld, several fundamental smart grid build- ing blocks stand to gain. Here, the key focus areas include transmission upgrades, substation auto- mation, distribution automation, smart metering and utility enterprise IT. The increased investment in smart technol- ogies is enabling the smart grid to evolve and advance. Emerging innovations are promising to benefi t consumers, utilities and countries world- wide. Some of these innovations include micro grids, energy storage devices such as Li-Ion batter- ies, smart homes that adjust consumption accord- ing to utility rates, Demand Response (DR) Man- agement Systems that predict peak usage times and mitigate outages and Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations. These technological innovations are just one sign that commitment to the smart grid is growing stronger, as its role in satisfying and engaging cus- tomers becomes more apparent. While the true impact of emerging smart grid trends remains to be seen, existing innovations are already delivering tangible and wide-ranging benefi ts, not just to consumers and companies, Published by and © 2020 ITP MEDIA Group FZ-LLC. 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