Hitachi ABB Power Grids Lands Key Qatar Solar Plant Order

Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a global technology leader headquartered in Switzerland, has announced that it has secured a major contract that will help Qatar’s national grid increase the integration of renewable energy from the country’s first large-scale solar power generation project – the 800MW Al Kharsaah photovoltaic (PV) power plant.

Scheduled for partial commissioning in Q2 2021, Al Kharsaah is key to achieving a carbon neutral power system, by integrating renewables as outlined in the Qatar National Vision, whereas the country - by 2030 - aims to advance and sustain its development and provide a high standard of living for all of its people.

As part of the agreement with PowerChina Guizhou Engineering and leveraging its integration capabilities and grid code requirement know-how, Hitachi ABB Power Grids will provide a fully engineered 220kV grid connection solution that includes detailed engineering and equipment, in line with local requirements and standards, said the company in a statement.

This is a fundamental pillar in supporting the customer to successfully develop the region’s largest solar power infrastructure project for clean energy generation, it added.

Mostafa AlGuezeri, managing director of Hitachi ABB Power Grids in the UAE, GCC, Near East and Pakistan, said: "Our pioneering technologies and global experience will help Qatar to diversify its power generation resources by safely and securely integrating utility-scale solar power generation into its grid."

Al Kharsaah will drive big changes in the region’s electricity sector diversifying Qatar’s energy mix and reducing emissions, explained AlGuezeri.

"Hitachi ABB Power Grids will help Qatar maximizing renewable energy penetration and increasing the operational and maintenance efficiency of this ground-breaking project," he added.