Avantha Group Company CG has been awarded a major contract worth €3.4 million ($3.6 million) by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to supply ZIV three phase smart meters for the kingdom's ongoing power projects.

The Avantha Group`s entities in diversified sectors include Crompton Greaves {(CG) for power transmission and distribution equipment and services)}, BILT (paper and pulp), The Global Green Company Limited (food processing), Biltech Building Elements Limited (infrastructure), Avantha Power (energy), Avantha Business Solutions Limited (IT and ITES), Jg Glass (glass containers).

The CG has bagged the largest lot for the supply of the first batch of industrial smart meters after months of close dedication from its application and sales team to understand the customer´s needs which enabled us to offer a customized and competitive product, said a statement from the Indian group.

The Saudi utility firm has taken an important step in the deployment of smart grids by defining a new functionality
and a new data model for the performance of the smart meters, it stated.

Interoperability, remote management and accuracy are the three key features of these smart meters that will be connected to current transformers and will communicate via modem (GPRS), the statement added.

Commenting on the win, Avantha Group Company CG`s CEO and managing director Laurent Demortier said: "We are very excited to partner with SEC in creating a modern, efficient grid and improve their overall end-user experience by providing a full range of smart grid products and services."

The Saudi electricity market, he stated, was the largest in the Arab world, with a peak load of 53,864 MW in 2013.

Demand for electricity is predicted to increase by an average rate of seven to eight per cent for the foreseeable future, driven by a growing population, rising per capita consumption and an ever expanding industrial base, he added.

According to Demortier, the technological strength of ZIV smart meters backed by a large field experience on the behaviour and performance of different communication technologies has proven to be a key factor for CG in gaining a strategic position in the global smart grid market.

"This project is an important step in the implementation of advanced technologies and innovations for sustainable and cost-efficient ways of energy consumption in Saudi Arabia," he added.-TradeArabia News Service