GE contracted for world’s largest wastewater treatment plant

General Electric's (GE) Power Conversion business has won a contract worth more than $10m (£6.2m) to help with the construction of the world's largest wastewater treatment plant in Abu Dhabi.


The company announced yesterday that it would supply eight pump drive trains, each with a power of 6.38 megawatts, as well as process automation.

The pumping station, to be located just outside of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, is part of the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Program (STEP), a 40km long wastewater tunnel intended to address rapidly growing needs for the collection and transport of used water generated by the growth of the city.

In 2030, when fully operational, the plant featuring wastewater pumps powered by GE’s drive trains, will be able to treat up to 70,000 cubic meters of wastewater every hour.

The pumps will be driven by GE’s vertical variable-speed motors, a specialized application for vertical motors working at a low speed of 500 revolutions per minute.

GE’s Power Conversion business industry vertical leader Keiran Coulton said:

“The unusual project requires that the engineering, procurement and construction contractor work closely with the suppliers of the pumps and drives to provide an optimal overall resolution.

“The piping arrangement in this project creates an impressive series of vertical water columns and the motor has been designed to manage the large amounts of water that may flow backward through the system when the pumps are shut down.”

Conor McGlone

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