Super grid revolutionizing Gulf energy markets

The Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority recently commissioned the first ever 400-kV super grid to  connect the power networks of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

This was done to protect against blackouts on each country's grids.

The network's main station will be in Saudi Arabia. The interconnection grid will include 900 kms of high voltage overhead lines, a 37km submarine cable to Bahrain and seven 400kV substations - effectively making it the world's largest back-to-back high voltage direct current converter station in the world, with a capacity of 1800MW.

This conversion to smart-grid technology also will offer the countries in the network the chance to increase the use of renewable power generation sources.

A recent industry study showed that by 2050, 57 percent of the world's electricity will come from a renewable energy source such as coal, oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, biomass, wind or solar.

This new smart grid technology will be a featured topic at the Power Qatar Summit 2015, which will take place Oct. 26-27 at the Ritz Carlton in Doha, Qatar.