2006-11-11 - A $32-million, state-of-the-art ABB switching station is providing high-quality power for Palm Jumeirah, the first of three luxury man-made islands off the coast of Dubai which have been described as the “eighth wonder of the world.”
By
Editorial services
The switching station is a special type of substation that delivers a reliable supply of quality electric power to what is widely considered one of the most prestigious and high-profile real estate projects in the world.
The station is located in the massive Jebel Ali power and desalination complex that supplies most of Dubai’s electricity and water and transmits power at 132 kilovolts (kV) and 50 kiloamperes (kA) to four 132/11 kV substations on the island. ABB is the only company that can supply switching technology at this voltage and frequency.
Working to a challenging delivery schedule of only 12 months, ABB successfully energized the substation in April 2005 to ensure that it would be ready in time for the completion of phase I of Palm Jumeirah in December 2006, when the first residents will begin to move in to their new homes.
Landmark of the Middle East
Palm Jumeirah is the first of the three islands in the Palm project. The other two, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, were slated following the massive global interest that Palm Jumeirah generated when launched in 2001. Celebrities who have already purchased homes on Palm Jumeirah include international soccer stars David Beckham and Michael Owen.
Billed as the “eighth wonder of the world” and the “Middle East’s most desirable address,” Palm Jumeirah has achieved iconic status for its bold and unique design. The man-made island is shaped like a date palm with a two-kilometer trunk and a crown of 17 fronds surrounded by an 11-kilometer crescent that acts as a breakwater.
The 78 kilometers of prime beach shoreline is as long as the existing coastline of Dubai. More than 4,000 beachfront villas and seaview apartments as well as hotels, marinas, shopping malls, private clubs, tennis courts and sports facilities are either close to completion or under construction.
Connected to mainland Dubai by bridge, the trunk of Palm Jumeirah will be a mix of apartments, hotels, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. A canal and an overhead monorail will run the length of the trunk, as will the Golden Mile - a cornice walkway flanked by upmarket shops and restaurants.
The centerpiece of the trunk is the stunning Trump International Hotel and Tower, a 48-story twin-tower complex of five-star hotel and apartments that will be a landmark for the whole of Dubai.
The 17 fronds are lined with luxury villas, each with its own beach and with direct access to the sea. Beyond the fronds, the crescent-shaped breakwater will house 22 five-star hotels. At the apex of the crescent will be the 1,539-room, $1.2-billion Atlantis hotel, an ocean-themed marine park and entertainment complex with 65,000 marine animals on display and a maze of underwater corridors that will recreate the mythological city of Atlantis.
Vital technology
Electric utility Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is charged with the responsibility of delivering a reliable supply of quality electricity to this multibillion-dollar piece of real estate. The key component in the transmission of electric power to Palm Jumeirah is the switching station. DEWA chose ABB to design, manufacture and deliver this vital installation.
ABB’s turnkey scope of supply includes 132 kV gas-insulated switchgear, protection panels, a substation control system, electrical and mechanical auxiliary equipment, 20 kilometers of cable and fiber optic cable, as well as civil works.
The substation secures the supply of power not only to Palm Jumeirah but to nearby areas of Dubai like Jebel Ali Free Zone and Jebel Ali Industrial Zone, as well as sharing the load of existing substations in the Jebel Ali power and desalination complex.