GCC INTERCONNECTION AUTHORITY

GCC INTERCONNECTION AUTHORITY

Leading the development of an efficient power market

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Interconnecting

Our World The GCC Interconnection Authority is inspired by the principles of the Gulf Cooperation Council, tackling the need to foster links in trade Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Richard Thomas

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EME s a result of the economic agreements between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States - signed by their Majesties and Highnesses - in 1981, a collective of committees were formed to administer and implement the power grid.

The idea of creating the power grid was fully conceived in 1986, at which point a study was conducted by a committee from the GCC countries in cooperation with the Kuwait Research Institute and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

“The GCC Committee recognised the technical benefits of the project and undertook a feasibility update study in 1990, collaborating with the Gulf Investment Bank and Canadian based SNC-Lavalin,” explains Ahmed Al Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer at GCC Interconnection Authority.

“This enabled us to determine the viability of our projects from both an economical and financial perspective, which inevitably led to the establishment of the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA).”

Established in 2001, the Authority is a joint stock entity, owned by the six GCC member states with an authorised share capital of $1.4 billion and 1,100 shares divided across all states based on the general production.

Al Ebrahim continues: “Our board of directors is made up of 12 members, comprising two members from each state. The executive level is headed by myself, and supported by three deputies: Chief Network Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Support Officer.

“The Authority is made up of numerous levels, which include system operations, maintenance and asset management, market operations, telecommunication and an array of supporting functions such

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Innovation

for energy transition

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REMOTE EXPERT Making expertise available to the field remotely, enabling faster resolution of on-site issues

OPTIMIZED MAINTENANCE Automated inspection of towers using UAV and computer vision to drastically reduce maintenance time & cost

FACES Automated fault analysis & geolocation system for electric networks, allowing quick emergency response and fast restoration of power

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as finance, MIS, talent management and lastly strategy and business development.”

More than 10 years later, the market operations function was introduced and in 2013, a strategy & business development department was created in order to focus on the plans of the authority and management performance.

Long-term strategy

The Authority has worked tremendously hard since fruition to ensure it is consistently achieving its goals. In 2012 it embarked on a five-year long-term strategy in which there were eight strategic themes, comprising increased value for shareholders, increased revenue streams, expanding service offerings, achieving long-term growth, influence policy, enabling service delivery, attracting, retaining and developing human capital and developing a foster culture.

“We have accomplished numerous successful initiatives over the years, all of which have been accomplished with relative ease,” affirms Al Ebrahim.

“Some of these initiatives included the leading of the fibre optic cables with telecom companies, resulting in new revenue streams for us to branch into.

“We have also provided consulting services to regional utilities on various projects over the years, seeking out new routes that would enable us to expand the current power grid beyond the region.

“On the human-scale, I would say that GCCIA has been successful in the creation of a friendly working environment in which we can achieve success on these initiatives; introducing several programmes and activities that encourage organisational interaction.”

At GCCIA, the Company’s vision is to serve the GCC countries and beyond through leading the development of an efficient power market, while

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“We have accomplished numerous successful initiatives over the years, all of which have been accomplished with relative ease.”

“...I would say that GCCIA has been successful in the creation of a friendly working environment in which we can achieve success on these initiatives; introducing several programmes and activities that encourage organisational interaction.”

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ith today’s global energy sector undergoing constant change, Omexom works with its clients to deliver on the promises of the energy transition.

Omexom’s solution targets those who produce, transform and transport electricity, including local authorities. Omexom thus helps energy producers, grid operators and territories fulfill their missions whilst simultaneously navigating the evolving landscape. In the Middle East, Omexom actively supports the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) with innovative asset integrity services.

Omexom’s expertise in the field of power grids allows us to anticipate the impact of renewable energies. We then work to develop storage solutions, make smarter infrastructures and meet new consumption trends.

As a system integrator, Omexom assesses the individual needs of every customer, before selecting the best solution specifically for them.

Omexom remains totally independent when it comes to integrating technological options.

Located in 31 countries on five continents, from rural to major urban areas, Omexom helps promote access to electricity, ensure security of supply and develop sustainable energy.

Innovation for Energy Transition Driven by innovation strategy, Omexom is constantly looking for innovative solutions with start-ups, companies and academic partners to meet the challenges of energy transition.

Omexom has been working with start-up Sterblue, which offers an imaging solution for determining transmission tower corrosion.

Sterblue’s solution makes it simpler to carry out automatic visual inspections of wind turbines and power lines. The Company offers a comprehensive solution using drones, a docking station and online platform. From automatically generating flight paths to viewing and processing the data, Sterblue handles the complete value chain.

Omexom and start-up DCbrain have also a shared ambition. The partners aim to use artificial intelligence in the energy networks of tomorrow. The AI solution developed

by DCbrain optimises network flows, and is particularly relevant to electricity grids.

This opens exciting opportunities for energy transition when paired with Omexom’s energy infrastructure expertise.

Other innovations are also developed internally: for example, the Nomad Mapping System that provides highly actionable topographic data, in environments difficult to access. Carried in a LIDAR backpack, the Nomad Mapping System includes a GPS, an inertial measurement, two laser scanners and five cameras. The tool’s portability and ability to take readings inside buildings as well as outside make it something with a very wide range of applications.

For us, innovation means sharing and discovering new concepts and processes that deliver effective answers.

Omexom is a VINCI Energies brand.

E contact@omexom.com

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providing knowledge excellence in power systems integration.

“It is our aim to achieve a power market in the region, a project that is currently taking place,” adds Al Ebrahim.

“While this is constantly at the forefront of our minds here at GCCIA, we are also pursuing various opportunities that will link the power grid with neighbouring power systems. These systems include Kuwait, Iraq and signed MoU’s with Jordan, Yemen and Ethiopia.

“Other significant projects that are currently under development include

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the power storage project – a joint project with a regional utility – and as we speak we are implementing a quality management system to ensure all processes are up to the standard we hope to reach, in pursuit of attaining ISO 9001 certification.”

Preferred employer

As previously mentioned, at GCCIA there is a huge emphasis placed on human capital. Not only is the Company keen on hiring highly qualified talent, but also remain ardent

on retaining them.

In its current five-year strategy, there is one strategy in particular that stands out: the mission to become the preferred employer in the region – within the power sector – which truly highlights the importance of attracting the best industry talent, achieved by being the recognisably preferred employer in the region.

Al Ebrahim continues: “We are then able to retain them by supporting their professional development, working with each employee on a case-by-case

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“We are unique in the fact that the GCCIA is the first organisation to be jointly created by the six GCC member states, providing a highly successful outcome that included the cooperation council and its economic agreement from 1981.”

“We are unique in the fact that the GCCIA is the first organisation to be jointly created by the six GCC member states, providing a highly successful outcome that included the cooperation council and its economic agreement from 1981.”

“We stand as truly unique with our model of Hybrid Common Neighbour-toNeighbour link, as such a structure doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world...”

basis and creating a structured training and career development programme.”

Growing demand

With thanks to the growing demand for renewable energy in the GCC region at present, the GCCIA is eagerly working to expand its line of service through investing in the renewables business, such as solar farms, electrical vehicles and the growing need for cyber security.

“We are unique in the fact that the GCCIA is the first organisation to be

jointly created by the six GCC member states, providing a highly successful outcome that included the cooperation council and its economic agreement from 1981,” adds the CEO. “We are also able to distinguish ourselves on a global level through our topology, consisting of two basic types that join in the common link, known as a ‘hybrid link’.”

The hybrid link will be the way in which all countries are provided with direct access to any other system, with the exception of Oman, which will still require all transactions with the other

five GCC countries in order to use the power system.

“We stand as truly unique with our model of Hybrid Common Neighbourto-Neighbour link, as such a structure doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world and we believe that this will have a significant role in reshaping energy policies on a regional and global scale,” explains Al Ebrahim. “During the remainder of this year, we will revisit our long-term strategy in order to shift our focus to new trends and areas of interest for the next decade.”

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GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) Abdullah Fouad District Prince Sultan Rehabilitation Complex Road Al-Basatin Near King Fahad Park & Next to Al-Hussain School Dammam 31481 Saudi Arabia T: +966 13 821 4201 F: +966 13 8211766

www.gccia.com.sa

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