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Dubai - CESI, a global leader in technical consulting and engineering,is participating at the Middle East Middle East Electricity 2015 (MEE), the world's leading industry event featuring power generation, lighting, renewable & nuclear energy. MEE is taking place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centrebetween 2-4 March 2015. This year's editionis held under the theme 'Connecting and Powering Businesses'.CESI's participation follows several regional accomplishments over the past weeks such as the successful audit and approval of FGH Engineering & Test GmbH, CESI's state-of-the-art facilities in Mannheim,Germany for independent tests by the National Grid Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).
The new lab represents a global center of excellence and is based on world-class technologies for testing cables, components and innovative systems for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), a strategic asset for long distance energy transmission. The HVDC laboratory is the first and biggest European independent laboratory for direct current, and leverages the most modern technologies that are able to perform development tests, type tests and prequalification tests .
Matteo Codazzi, CESI's CEO, commented, "We are very excited to be at the world's largest power exhibition and to talk about our work - especially the ground-breaking potential this laboratory presents; taking the technological development of the energy market one step further. As more and more countries adopt HVDC technology, a technology already utilized among many European transmission operators, we will be able to reduce energy losses and improve interconnectivity within the region."
The HVDC laboratory, that was launched in September 2014, is the first and biggest European independent laboratory for direct current, and is compliant with relevant standards at the International Electro technical Commission and the most updated CIGRE Technical Recommendations e.g. CIGRE TB 496 - 2012 or CIGRE SC B1DOC 11/21. A range of complex teststhat coversclimate, pollution and structure can be performed at the facility including load cycle tests, superimposed impulse voltage tests, long duration voltage tests, and superimposed switching impulse voltage tests; with mechanical tests (inspection services to customer's premises), short circuit tests and internal arc tests.The latter tests are increasingly requested by utilities for safety reasons.
In this space, Saudi Arabia has already signed very important agreements with other Middle Eastern countries; the newest is the partnership with Egypt. The agreement concerns the linkage of the national electricity grids allowing power trading between the two countries. The project, set to be finalized in 2017, will effectively lead to linking the power grids of 14 Arab Countries.
Recognizing the importance of HVDC technology to the region, key entities like the GCC Interconnection Authority and SEC have established a specialized working group that focusses on developments in the GCC. Participants include key utilities, authorities, manufacturers and consultants. Representing CESI Middle East- also participating in this working group, Floris Schulze, Managing Director commented, "Quality assurance and control of HVDC components will become very important with growth in the number of projects. MEE is the perfect platform to talk about the work of our HVDC laboratory that will become a key asset in the industry in ensuring quality and developing and executing new testing activities on components."
In its 40th edition in 2015, the MEE event witnessed a 40 per cent increase in visitor attendance over the past two years. At MEE 2015, CESI's SandroClerici will be moderating a panel within the important Green Energy Conference, while UbertoVercellotti and Paolo Miolowill be participating at technical seminars titled "CESI Expertise for Cable Testing" and "Product Conformity Assessment, The Low Voltage Application" respectively.
Among other recent partnerships in the region, CESI signed an agreement with Oman's Electricity Holding Company SAOC (EHC) - on behalf of the distribution and supply companies in the Sultanate of Oman to introduce automated meter reading technology or smart metering for High Value Customers. CESI will also be working with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) toensure readiness of Dubai's transmission and distribution network in order to increase the share of renewable energy. CESI will also support DEWA's initiative to install photovoltaic (PV) panels in houses and buildings to generate electricity. This is apart from providingtraining for DEWA's engineers; proposing improvements in operation policies and protocols to improve reliability;and in incorporating new tools and applications to improve transmission system operation management.
CESI has also won a milestone contract to provide technical servicesto update some of the system operational studies for GCCIA that has built a 400 kV super grid that connects the electrical power networks of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This interconnection enables electrical energy exchange and emergency support among these countries.
Apart from HVDC technology, CESI's business interests cover testing, inspection and certification services for variouselectrical components;engineering and consulting services for power systems and markets, transmission and distribution grids, generationplants, renewable and hydro plants;environmental consulting and structural engineering servicesfor energy, training &development, industry and transport sector and the production of solar cells for space and terrestrial applications.
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About CESI
CESI is a world leading technical consulting and engineering company with over 50 years' experience operating in several areas including: Transmission and Interconnections, Smart Grids for Distribution, Renewables, Testing, Certification and Quality Assurance. CESI also develops and manufactures advanced multi junction photovoltaic solar cells for both space and terrestrial (HCPV) applications.
With an annual turnover of more than €120 million, CESI operates in more than 40 countries around the world, with a total network of 1,000 professionals. The company's key clients include governmental institutions, regulatory authorities, major utilities, Transmission System Operators (TSOs), Distribution System Operators (DSOs), generation companies, manufacturers, system integrators, financial institutions and international electromechanical and electronic manufacturers.
CESI is a fully independent joint-stock company with main premises in Milan, Berlin, Mannheim, Dubai and Rio de Janeiro.
For more information please contact:
Anand George
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
E: Anandgeorge.zachariah@hkstrategies.com
M: +971 56 1753284
Paolo Mereghetti
CESI
E: paolo.mereghetti@cesi.it
M: +39 3408640706
© Press Release 2015
