Ventyx, an ABB company, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electricity (MOE) in Iraq to provide energy management systems that will help improve power supplies in Iraq from main control centres in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Basra.

The MOE is upgrading its existing regional control centres (RCCs) by replacing legacy systems with an integrated solution that comprises Ventyx Network Manager Scada EMS (supervisory control and data acquisition and energy management system) software.

Once upgraded, the control centres will provide operators with a system-wide view of the grid's condition, enabling smooth operations as well as the rapid detection and correction of faults. The RCCs, jointly with the National Dispatch centre (NDC), will be the backbone for the real-time monitoring, supervision and control of the country's transmission grid.

By gaining greater visibility of its transmission network, MOE can reduce congestion and improve power availability and reliability – helping to avoid unplanned outages by rerouting power as needed. MOE will also be able to schedule planned outages, enabling its power plants to go offline for maintenance, as well as monitor "tie points" with surrounding nations so that power resources can be optimally shared between countries.

Ventyx will also provide extensive training, equipment maintenance and diagnostics services, as well as remote support services to ensure the smooth running of the transmission network.

"Demand for electricity continues to expand, not just in urban areas, but across Iraq as the economy grows and Iraqi citizens experience increased standards of living," said Adel Mahdi, minister adviser, Iraqi Ministry of Electricity.

"A modern and reliable transmission system is a necessity to meet this demand. As we rehabilitate and expand the national grid, we rely on Ventyx advanced applications, expert training and support to help us manage the transmission network in a way that ensures that power is available, reliable and safe for all Iraqi people."

"This agreement builds on our company's long-standing relationship with MOE, which is also implementing Ventyx software to help refurbish the electricity distribution system in Baghdad," said Daryl Rolley, executive vice president, global sales, Ventyx.

The Ventyx EMS is an advanced control centre solution that, for more than 30 years, has helped electric power transmission companies around the world manage complex energy system processes and reduce operating costs, while ensuring the required levels of cyber security. – TradeArabia News Service