GE Energy Connections said one of its units has won a contract from Indian construction group L&T to support seven 66/11-kV substations with advanced protection and automation systems at Lusail City mega-development in Qatar.

With this contract, the company is setting a new benchmark in localised provision of power solutions by supporting the power supply of Qatar’s future smart city, the Lusail City, which will also be the host venue of Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup.

GE Energy Connections said its Grid Solutions business will be providing both the main relays marking the exclusive provision of all protection equipment for the substations.

In addition, more than 400 protection panels and the full DS Agile substation automation system for the seven substations are provided by Grid Solutions, it stated.

These substations, protected and automated by GE, are located in Qetafian Island South, West1, West2, Wadi1, Wadi2, North and Marina. The panels are scheduled for supply by April next year and all the seven substations will be energised by the end of 2017.

The substations at Lusail City will support the electricity needs of nearly 450,000 people who are expected to take up residence in the mega development that will boast residential districts, island resorts, commercial districts, luxury shopping, marinas, leisure and entertainment centres and a golf course community in the man-made islands.

The 80,000-seater Lusail stadium, which is set to host the opening and final matches of the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup, is also part of this master-planned development.

Essa M. Kaldari, the chief executive of Lusail Real Estate Development Company, said: "It is the smart city of the future that reflects the Qatar National Vision 2030 to drive economic diversification. As the home venue of the Fifa World Cup 2022, the mega-development is setting new benchmarks in infrastructure and amenities."

"With its proven expertise in supporting Qatar’s power sector, GE serves as an ideal partner to drive the electricity infrastructure for the development," he stated.

Mohammed Mohaisen, the president and chief executive of Grid Solutions (Middle East and Central Asia) said: "The contract for Lusail City marks a first for GE in the country as we provide an integrated protection and automation solution that is completely equipped by GE and designed locally by our Qatar-based Grid Solutions team."

"GE has been a partner for the 2006 Asian Games, and now with our project for Lusail City, we are bringing our competencies to support another sporting spectacle hosted by the country. We will draw on our industrial internet strengths to deliver high levels of efficiency to the substations through advanced automated solutions," he added.

The advanced grid technology is being showcased by GE at the GCC Power which concludes tomorrow (November 10) at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Doha.-TradeArabia News Service