Saudi-Arabia

The most complex HVDC-subproject in Saudi-Arabia.

Facts

• Project: SEC-WOA
• Range: ±536 kV
• Total lenght: 197,53 km
• Installed Towers: 446
• Location: Neom – Yanbu

The ±536 kV SEC-WOA Project (Section 2) marks a milestone in the development of modern power grids in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With a total length of 197.53 kilometers, this section was by far the most technically demanding and challenging of all HVDC sections.

Over 55% of the route (111.96 km) runs through rugged, mountainous terrain and reaches elevations of up to 1,066 meters above sea level. The remaining 85.57 km run through flat landscapes. Particular attention was paid to the approximately 62 kilometers within the protection zone of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)—a region of unique scenic beauty and great cultural significance that also includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra. Here, the utmost care was required with regard to environmental regulations, heritage protection, and official requirements. A total of 446 towers were installed to overcome the challenging topographical and regulatory conditions.

The project was further complicated by the parallel construction of the 380 kV SEC-WOA line from Madain BSP to Umlujj North BSP, which had to be seamlessly integrated into the HVDC grid. Despite high technical, logistical, and scheduling demands, the project was successfully completed with minimal delays.

This project exemplifies our engineering expertise, coordination, and reliability—even under exceptionally complex conditions.