The Evolving Role of Temporary Power Plants

Temporary power plants are among the most popular solutions to provide electricity to communities, events, businesses and industries around the world. Temporary power plants can be quickly delivered, installed and powered on, and they do not require a huge capital expenditure on the part of the customer. They are efficiently managed and maintained by the engineers and technicians of the temporary power provider, and can be completely demobilized at the end of the contract.

It is easy to think of temporary power plants in short-term projects of a few megawatts, like in sporting events or concerts. But while temporary power providers cater to such requirements, their scope is more extensive than just “temporarily” providing electricity.

In recent years, the role of rental power plants has transcended being merely “temporary”. The industry is now witnessing projects with contracts of longer duration and of capacities that, at times, can make up a sizable fraction of the grid’s demand. Rental power plants are increasingly being utilized in baseload operation, and modern rental power plants are now able to perfectly integrate with the existing permanent power infrastructure. In certain applications, rental power generation technologies are supplying electricity to entire cities or provinces, or even countries, and are powering thousands of businesses and millions of people.

Rental power suppliers, like leading global rental power company Altaaqa Global Caterpillar Rental Power, are primed to serve projects with longer contract durations and of multi-megawatt capacities. They are able to cater to multi-year, larger-scale requirements from a wide range of industries, including utilities, oil & gas, mining, and manufacturing, to name a few. They are able to supplement a country’s grid capacity; provide on-site power for oil & gas and mining facilities; and supply electricity to process industries, for example.

Let us take a close look at utilities. Utility providers around the world partner with rental power providers for a variety of reasons. They seek the assistance of rental power suppliers when they need a speedy supply of supplemental electricity. Utility providers also collaborate with rental power companies in times of significant power supply constraint, like in hydropower-dependent countries or cities in times of drought or low-rain seasons. Utilities also avail of rental power services while waiting for permanent power plants to be completed, or when they are still in the process of raising capital for the construction of facilities or the expansion of existing grid supply. There are also utilities that hire power plants in times of seasonal shifts in electricity demand, for instance during summer.

On the other hand, mining and oil & gas facilities, being remote from the national grid, hire power plants to provide electricity at every stage of their operations throughout their lifetime. Rental power plants support the electricity needs of mining and oil & gas facilities from the nascent stages up to the most power-intensive processes. Thanks to the scalability of rental power plants, their capacities can be increased (or decreased) according to the needs of the sites.

Process industries, like consumer and industrial manufacturing, turn to rental power not only to provide electricity to their facilities during peak production season but also to ensure the reliable supply of electricity, especially in areas where load shedding is implemented and power outages are frequent. With rental power plants consistently power their operations, manufacturing companies can fulfill their production commitments and delivery obligations to their customers.

As the world’s economies grow, electricity demand will continue to increase and electrification efforts will only intensify. In recognition of this trend, rental power providers, like Altaaqa Global, are continuously working to further improve the technologies of their systems in order to cater a wider range of power requirements of varying contract duration and capacities.

If you have a multi-megawatt rental power requirement, talk to us to find out how our rental power plants can work for you. E-mail us at info@altaaqaglobal.com or at sales@altaaqaglobal.com. Alternatively, you can call us at +971 4 880 8006.

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The Top 5 Economic Benefits of Hiring Multi-Megawatt Power Plants

An increasing number of industrial companies and businesses around the world are looking for various means to streamline their operations, minimize operating costs and improve their bottom line, and at the same time maintain their competitiveness.

One area in their operation that industrial companies and businesses can optimize is their energy supply and usage. It is essential that industrial companies not only manage their power utilization and energy efficiency but also assess the cost of their principal electricity source, be it from the national grid or from their own power generation facility. This is particularly critical for industrial companies operating in locations remote from the national grid, like manufacturing plants, mines, and oil & gas facilities. These companies should keenly evaluate the cost benefits of various available power supply solutions, among which are purchasing their own power generation facilities or partnering with a multi-megawatt temporary power provider.

There are several factors that come into play when choosing an appropriate power supply solution. Aside from cost, there are other considerations like timing, duration of requirement, availability of manpower and know-how, and associated servicing and maintenance. At first, investing in a proprietary power generation facility may seem optimal, but industrial companies and businesses need to closely evaluate the merits of all options available.

Here is a run-down of five of the most notable benefits of renting multi-megawatt power plants:

1. No need for large capital expenditure

When industrial companies and businesses choose to hire multi-megawatt rental power plants, they will avoid making large capital expenditure and will not be constrained to commit a significant amount of their company’s working capital to a fixed asset (in this case, a power plant). This proposition will improve their cash flow and facilitate their financial forecasting because they can pay for the rented electricity from their operating expenditure over a guaranteed payment schedule.

In addition, renting multi-megawatt temporary power plants offers the flexibility to increase or decrease the power capacity, or extend the rental period, if required.

2. Avoid associated costs

Industrial companies and businesses should be aware of the associated costs involved in purchasing a power plant. Among these are insurance, spare parts, and ancillary items, among others. These are unavoidable additional purchases they need to make to ensure that the power plant is efficiently working and delivering the desired amount of power.

In the case of rental power plants, all spares and ancillaries are taken care of by the temporary power provider, making budgeting and financial forecasting easier for industrial companies and businesses. Simply put, when hiring multi-megawatt power plants, everything related to operating and maintaining the plants is the responsibility of the power service provider so the customers can concentrate on running their businesses.

3. No need to hire new engineers or technicians

Power plants should be operated by skilled and trained engineers and technical professionals. In most cases, industrial companies and businesses purchasing their own power plant will also need to hire new staff members to run the power plant. Not only will this represent an associated cost, but hiring engineers and technicians to work in remote locations will have its own share of challenges.

This can be avoided by partnering with a reputable temporary power provider. Rental power companies, like Altaaqa Global Caterpillar Rental Power, have expert, Caterpillar-certified engineers and technicians who will take care of operating and maintaining the power plants throughout the duration of the contract.

In addition, they are also able to provide training to the customers’ own engineers and technicians so the latter can enhance their knowledge of power generation and be able to play vital roles in operating the customers’ own plants, if need be.

4. Complete demobilization

One other distinct benefit of hiring multi-megawatt power plants is that the plants can be completely demobilized when the need for power has passed or when the contract is finished. This means that there will be no customer-owned permanent power facility or equipment left that will require constant maintenance or servicing. This ultimately indicates that when the requirement for prime or supplemental electricity is finished, the expenditure associated with it also stops.

5. Complete power solutions

Rental power companies, like Altaaqa Global Caterpillar Rental Power, offer more than generators: They provide integrated energy solutions. From meeting the customers in order to precisely understand their requirements; to designing the power plants; delivering the required equipment at site; installing the power plants; commissioning, operating, maintaining and servicing them; training the customers’ own engineers and technicians; through to demobilization, multi-megawatt temporary power providers work to provide their customers 100% peace of mind so they can concentrate on growing their business.

Talk to us to find out how multi-megawatt temporary power plants can help you optimize your processes and solve your power supply challenges. E-mail us at info@altaaqaglobal.com or sales@altaaqaglobal.com. Alternatively, you can call us at +971 4 880 8006.


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How to Prevent Electricity Disruption during Peak Summer Months

In many countries around the world, power shortages, blackouts, load shedding and unscheduled electricity interruption are common during peak summer months. There are several reasons why they occur, but perhaps two of the most prominent are the spike in power consumption among residents and businesses, and not having enough power supply.

During the hottest days of the year, it is not uncommon that residents, businesses, and industrial operations use air conditioning more often. In homes and offices, multiple air conditioning units usually run all at the same time at full power to cool the temperature and keep a healthy living or working environment. In addition, in many countries schools are on break during these months so children are likely staying at home and consuming electricity as they watch TV, play with their game consoles or surf the Web on their computers. These are just a few of the reasons why power consumption notably increases during summer months.

On the other hand, in some countries, especially those that rely on hydropower, the summer months also see a reduced availability of electricity supply due to drought, prolonged absence of rain and the drying up of water reservoirs. When electricity consumption went up while the supply gradually decreased, one could imagine that what would follow are more frequent power interruption, longer blackouts, and unplanned load shedding. This would, in turn, result in massive inconvenience among residents, hampered business operations and lower levels of industrial production.

Good thing interim power supply solutions are available. Many power utilities prevent the occurrence of widespread blackouts and power disruption during the peak summer months by hiring multi-megawatt temporary power plants.

For instance, in the summer of 2013, the Sultanate of Oman hired a 24 megawatt (MW) rental power plant through the leading global temporary power provider Altaaqa Global Caterpillar Rental Power to boost its electricity supply. As the country needed an immediate solution to supplement its existing power supply, Altaaqa Global delivered the project in record-time, completing the installation, powering on and supplying electricity in just 96 hours. Altaaqa Global offered a complete turnkey power solution comprising power generators, transformers, fuel tanks, distribution panels, electrical accessories, and manpower – certified power engineers who will operate, manage and maintain the temporary power plant.

In 2014, Eneo, the integrated power utility provider of Cameroon, opted to partner with Altaaqa Global in installing a 50 MW natural gas power plant in Douala to increase its electricity supply and decrease the instances of power outages and load shedding in the city. Altaaqa Global’s gas power plants, comprising state-of-the-art power generation equipment, started supplying electricity after only 21 days from when the equipment arrived at the site. Till date, the gas power plants have been consistently producing reliable electricity to the residents, businesses, and industries of Douala.

Even as some countries may experience power supply limitation during the summer months, temporary power generation technologies are available to boost their electricity supply so they can prevent power outages and instances of load shedding. Temporary power plants are swiftly delivered, reliable and fuel-efficient, and does not require a huge capital investment. Power utilities can conveniently pay for the rented electricity from their operating expenses over a regular contracted period. Once the need for supplemental electricity passed, rental power plants could be easily demobilized, so no permanent power facility would be left unutilized or would require constant maintenance.

These are just some of the general benefits of choosing to rent power plants in times of short- to medium-term multi-megawatt power requirements. We invite you to talk to us to find out how temporary power plants can help solve your electricity challenges. Call us at +971 4 880 8006 or e-mail us at info@altaaqaglobal.com.

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How to Keep Engineers in Manufacturing Companies Engaged at Work

When engineers find their work environment motivating, they will continue to perform at their peak, and even surpass expectations

The role of engineers in manufacturing companies can never be understated. A manufacturing operation may involve engineers specializing in various fields, including product development, design & operation and electrical to name a few.

Product development engineers make ideas come to life. In companies like Apple, Samsung, or Microsoft, they are involved in turning concepts into actual products that consumers patronize and use.

Design and operation engineers design, develop and manage integrated systems for the production of high-quality products. These systems may include computer networks, robots, machine tools, and materials-handling equipment.

Electrical engineers make sure that the power supply in a manufacturing site is enough for the company to meet its production targets. This is of particular importance for industrial manufacturing businesses like ArcelorMittal, ThyssenKrupp, Boeing or Airbus. They maintain the power infrastructure and facilities within the manufacturing plant, or liaise with temporary electric power suppliers in times when the factory needs additional power, say during peak production seasons, or when load shedding or peak shaving are implemented in the area.

Whatever the area of specialization is, engineers play highly essential roles in manufacturing facilities, and as such, it is important to keep them motivated at work and retain their services. While there is not a world of difference between what keeps engineers engaged at work and what it takes to do that for any other member of the organization, paying keen attention to the unique motivational needs of engineers can spell a huge difference.

Here are some things to take into consideration in keeping engineers motivated in manufacturing companies:

1. Allow them to be free, creative

Engineers value a strong sense of autonomy and the freedom to choose how to approach various issues at work. They appreciate if they are given the opportunity to creatively resolve engineering-related challenges at work. Based on our experience with our electrical engineers, they thrive on a results-driven environment, and appreciate having a degree of independence to perform at their best with minimal supervision and instruction. They are also stimulated by a work environment that promotes and rewards innovative thought.  

Courtesy www.gineersnow.com

2. They are not enticed by promotion

Okay, hold your horses. When I said that engineers are not enticed by promotion, I meant the type that follows a conventional progression across the company organization.

Courtesy www.gineersnow.com

Many engineers in manufacturing companies, like in India’s Tata Motors or Tejas Networks, may not be interested in traditional leadership positions, because they may not want to manage other employees or sit in the office for hours on end – they just want to keep building and developing products, and maintain the challenge and dynamism of a thriving engineering career. It is possible that promoting them to a traditional manager will suppress their creative engineering process, and this may dampen their motivation at work. For example, if a manufacturing company promotes an electrical engineer (who is actively engaged in installing, running and maintaining onsite power generation facilities) to a conventional manager (who will spend eight hours of his day preparing documents and responding to e-mails), then it is the running the risk of demotivating the previously-engaged engineer.

Having said this, if an engineer really deserves a promotion, then let it be to a position that is equally energetic and stimulating, that will still require his engineering creativity and ingenuity.

3. For engineers, learning is an ending journey (Kaizen)

Manufacturing companies hire engineers because of the latter’s mastery of what they do. While they may already be specialists in their own fields, engineers are always hungry to learn more and do more.

Courtesy www.gineersnow.com

Engineers flourish in environments where learning is a part of their daily life. As such, manufacturing companies should continuously offer them opportunities to improve on their skills and to apply new learnings through healthy challenges. Based on experience, our electrical engineers welcome specialized training courses on modern technologies and innovative methods, and situations that will require them to use the new knowledge that they have acquired. They also appreciate opportunities to mentor technicians or other engineers, because doing so helps them reinforce their engineering knowledge and, to a large extent, gives a deeper sense of purpose to their vocation as engineers.

4. Give them missions, not just projects

Engineers are driven by their desire to change the world. Most great engineers are motivated by working on big projects and by seeing the encompassing results of their hard work. Therefore, it is important that engineers in a manufacturing company realize the magnitude of the task given to them.

For example, it is essential that an electrical engineer in an industrial manufacturing facility, like Emirates Global Aluminium or Tata Steel, understands that without him performing his task, the plant will not have the power to produce goods, and as such the company will fail at providing its customers that products that they need. This will help him see the real-world impact of his responsibility within the production plant. The consciousness that his task has a meaningful effect to a great number of people and businesses will lead him to embrace his accountability and to value more his position within the company.

Courtesy www.gineersnow.com

5. Let them have fun

Engineering tasks within a manufacturing company can be daunting and can put a huge amount of pressure on engineers. It will not hurt to inject a bit of fun.

Courtesy www.gineersnow.com

It is, thus, important for manufacturing companies to encourage enjoyment and interaction at work. For example, they can organize a quarterly family day, when employees and their families can gather and enjoy a day at the park. They can also arrange a company lunch or dinner after a successful campaign or production season as a sign of appreciation of the employees’ work. They can also host an awards ceremony to recognize exemplary performance. A sports day is also a good idea to allow employees to unwind and engage each other in healthy competition.

Engineers represent an invaluable part of the overall success of a manufacturing business. Engineers possess an intellectual capacity and ability to generate innovation, and this is essential for manufacturing companies especially amidst escalating competition within an increasingly challenging market. The more that the management understands what drives the motivation of engineers, the better experience the engineering team will have in the manufacturing company. And the more encouraging their work environment, the bigger the chance that engineers will remain engaged at work, perform at their peak and surpass expectations.

For more information on the values that guide our operations and business & human resource practices, please visit: http://www.altaaqaglobal.com/about-us/about-altaaqa-global

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This article has previously been published on https://www.gineersnow.com/leadership/keep-engineers-manufacturing-companies-engaged-work


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Altaaqa Global Achieves ISO Recognition for Energy Performance

The company is the first and thus far the only temporary power provider to have its projects certified in accordance with ISO 50001:2011 standards 

After months of rigorous process alignment and extensive audit, Altaaqa Global Caterpillar Rental Power, a leading global provider of multi-megawatt temporary power solutions, has achieved ISO 50001:2011 certification from TÜV NORD, the ISO-accredited certification body headquartered in Hanover, Germany.

ISO 50001:2011 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an energy management system, whose purpose is to enable an organization to follow a systematic approach in achieving continual improvement in energy performance within its operations and projects.

“ISO 50001:2011 is applicable to any organization wishing to ensure that its products and services conform to its avowed energy policy”, said Shibu Davies, General Manager for Certification, HSD & Lab at TÜV NORD. “This certification awarded to Altaaqa Global, the only rental power company in the world to have achieved the feat to date, is a testimony to the company’s steadfast dedication to delivering multi-megawatt power generation projects that efficiently use energy, conserve natural resources and help in combatting climate change.”

Meghana Millin, Quality and HSE Officer of Altaaqa Global, described how the company ensures that its energy policy is implemented and adhered to across its processes. “We train our sights on providing the most energy efficient and environmentally responsible power solutions to our clients. Thus, we remain committed to our energy policy from the selection of the power equipment, to the designing of the power plants, to transport, through project installation, commissioning and maintenance. Furthermore, we regularly upgrade our current installations to further improve on their energy performance.”

Majid Zahid, Altaaqa Global’s Chief Commercial Officer, shed light on how the company guarantees customer satisfaction in all its multi-megawatt rental power projects: “We ensure that our power plants maintain the highest level of efficiency by having their performance monitored and evaluated by reputable global certification bodies. This way, we assure our clients that our power projects do not only supply uninterrupted reliable electricity, but also offer cost savings and minimal operational expenditure.”

For his part, Peter den Boogert, CEO of Altaaqa Global, called upon the rental power industry to take up the cause of energy responsibility. “Being in the business of providing electricity, the onus is upon us, temporary power providers, to conscientiously mitigate the environmental effects of our operations. That is why we at Altaaqa Global are continuously developing and optimizing our power generation solutions, so they ultimately promote real economic, social and environmental benefits. We are proud to have blazed a trail in energy performance and fuel efficiency in the IPP industry.”

In 2014, Altaaqa Global has also achieved ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems) certifications, making it part of an elite list of global companies to have ever completed a triple audit and received all certifications in its first year of evaluation.

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About Altaaqa Global
Altaaqa Global, a subsidiary of Zahid Group, has been selected by Caterpillar Inc. to deliver multi-megawatt turnkey temporary power solutions worldwide. The company owns, mobilizes, installs, and operates efficient temporary independent power plants (IPP’s) at customer sites, focusing on the emerging markets of Sub-Sahara Africa, Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, South East Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Offering power rental equipment that will operate with different types of fuel such as diesel, natural gas, or dual-fuel, Altaaqa Global is positioned to rapidly deploy and provide temporary power plant solutions, delivering electricity whenever and wherever it may be needed.

http://www.altaaqaglobal.com

About Zahid Group
Zahid Group represents a diverse range of companies, offering comprehensive, customer-centric solutions in a number of thriving industries. Some of those include construction; mining; oil & gas; agriculture; power, electricity & water generation; material handling; building materials; transportation & logistics; real estate development; travel & tourism; waste management & recycling; and hospitality.

http://www.zahid.com

About TÜV NORD
TÜV NORD International GmbH & Co. KG has established business relationships in more than 70 countries of Europe, America, Asia and Africa and is now represented in all major world markets. The TÜV NORD Group has combined its acknowledged competence, versatile innovative talent and also many companies who are leaders in their market segments under the umbrella of TÜV NORD International. Now, know-how developed over many years and a dedicated, 8,400-strong workforce worldwide ensure that “TÜV NORD” is accepted as a global name for safety, quality, competence and trust.

https://www.tuv-nord.com/en/tuv-nord-worldwide/

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How Can Rental Power Plants Support the Predicted Growth in Electricity Demand?

We now live in a world where virtually everything requires energy, and where a momentary interruption in its supply can throw economies and societies into disarray. And as the world will need more of energy, industry stakeholders should, therefore, keep a close watch on its efficient production and utilization to ensure that it will be sufficient for the coming generations.  

Experts predict that global energy demand will continue to grow through 2050. In a recent article, McKinsey and Company, a global research and information firm, revealed that the global requirement for energy will grow by an average of 0.7 percent a year through 2050. This growth rate is notably lower than the current two percent, owing to digitization, slower population and economic growth, greater efficiency, the decline in demand in Europe and North America, and the global economic shift toward services, which use less energy than the production of goods. Despite this decline, it cannot be ignored that there is still a critical need to meet the future demand if the world is to have a continuous and reliable supply of energy.

Electricity will account for a quarter of all energy demand by 2050. McKinsey predicts that more than 75 percent of new electricity capacity will come from wind and solar. Thus, wind and solar power generation are expected to grow four or five times faster than every other source of electrical power.

As a global temporary power solutions provider, we see this as a welcome development in increasing the availability of electricity in areas that require it, and in diversifying the energy mix to encourage long-term energy security.

Multi-megawatt temporary power technologies are primed to work in tandem with renewable energy sources to help surmount issues of power supply unpredictability and intermittency, especially in power-intensive industries like oil & gas, construction, and utility power generation, transmission and distribution.

Temporary power plants can also provide supplemental power to renewable energy facilities during planning, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, operations and maintenance. Temporary power plants can help ensure that renewable energy plants are constructed and delivered on time and as planned, and that they remain efficient, reliable and in optimum condition at all times.

As a global player in the rental power industry, we recognize the ever-important role that electricity plays in the promotion of progress and development in countries around the world. As such, we continuously work on innovating and engineering power generation systems that efficiently responds to the energy needs of the times. For more information on rental power plants and how it can help power your industry, please visit http://www.altaaqaglobal.com

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Insights on the Power Rental Market in the Middle East

The performance of the power rental market in the Middle East remains strong, riding high on the region's continued economic growth and sustained industrial and infrastructure activities. Peter den Boogert, CEO of Altaaqa Global, shares the company's perspectives on the road map ahead of the temporary power market in the Middle East.

Which factors are leading to the rise in power rental market in the Middle East region? 

The power rental market has been constantly growing in the Middle East, owing to the region’s continuous economic growth, sustained industrial and infrastructure activities, rapid growth in population, improvement in the standards of living, occasional utility shortages in key areas, and observed unreliable electricity connection in various cities and provinces. 

The above mentioned factors lead to the requirement for alternative power sources, such as multi-megawatt temporary power plants, to support the region’s existing power infrastructure. For instance, the intense industrial and construction activities, coupled with a massive electricity requirement on the part of residents especially during summer months put a heavy load on the region’s utilities, so that occasionally they are unable to supply the required power. This is where turning to temporary power becomes beneficial, particularly in maintaining the productivity of construction or industrial operations, and in avoiding power interruptions, load shedding or peak shaving.  

Furthermore, temporary power plants are also employed to bring electricity to areas where power connection remains unreliable or absent, like in remote locations or mountainous regions. 

Which is the biggest genset market in the region? Recent reports suggest Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are leading the way. What are the countries, you think, follow the list?

We observe that Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar remain the biggest markets for multi-megawatt temporary power solutions in the region. 

Although the decrease in oil prices has had, to some extent, an effect on the economy of Saudi Arabia, economic experts agree that it has not restricted the country’s investments in various projects. The experts recognize the country’s extensive cash reserves for the continuous development in Saudi Arabia’s public infrastructure, utilities, healthcare and education, to name a few. Thus, the sustained construction and industrial activities in the country, coupled with a constantly increasing electricity demand from its residents and businesses, are spurring the buoyancy of the power rental market in Saudi Arabia. In fact, market research firm 6W Research estimates the CAGR of the power rental market in Saudi Arabia to be at 12.6% from 2015-2021.

Similarly, the demand for electricity has, over the years, tremendously increased in the UAE. The constantly increasing public and private infrastructure, together with an expanding population, has caused the country’s electricity requirement to surge in the last decade. The same research firm predicts the CAGR of the temporary power market in the UAE to be at 16.8% from 2015-2021, taking into keen consideration the upcoming World Expo 2020, during which about 25 million tourists are expected to visit the country. Preparations for the global event, including the construction of trade centers, hotels, hospitals, rail networks and airports are seen to be driving the growth of the rental power sector in the country.

The rental power market in Qatar is heavily influenced by the country’s preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022. The increasing infrastructure development (building of eight new stadiums, renovation of three existing stadiums, establishment of Lusail City), expanding transportation network (building of Doha Metro Rail and expressways), surging public and private investments, rising hospitality sector and continuous economic reforms are driving the growth of the temporary power business in the country. Research firm 6W Research pegs the growth of the rental power sector in the country at 23.3% from 2014-2020. 

Other significant markets for multi-megawatt rental power solutions in the region include Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, which are also economically and industrially viable countries.

It is worth noting that temporary power solutions can also prove beneficial for countries that may require infrastructure rebuilding and rehabilitation, or re-establishment of a reliable power connection, like Yemen, Iraq and Syria. As the governance of these countries become more stable in the coming years, we believe that they will represent excellent market opportunities for temporary power providers.

Between gas and diesel gensets, which has a better growth prospect and why? With solar generation being tapped in a big way today especially in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, do you think it may affect the genset industry?

It is expected that the diesel generator market will continue to grow in the next several years, owing to easy availability, safety and economy of fuel, and ease of installation of diesel equipment.

However, we are noticing a gradual increase in the requirement for natural gas and dual-fuel power generation technologies, largely influenced by the increasing availability of fuel resources and government initiatives towards reducing carbon emissions. 

In the past, fuel availability and the costs of installing safe and reliable fuel delivery infrastructure have been limitations on the growth of the natural gas generator market. Today, however, gas is becoming increasingly available and gas generation technologies are progressively finding application in bigger and longer-duration projects, making the upfront investment for the gas infrastructure economically sensible. The availability of dual-fuel generators (which significantly simplifies the transition from diesel-run to gas-run generators), is also helping overcome these obstacles.

As for the observed gradual shift in solar and other renewable power generation technologies, we see this as a welcome development in increasing the availability of electricity in areas that require it, and in diversifying the energy mix to encourage long-term energy security. 

Multi-megawatt temporary power technologies are primed to work in tandem with renewable energy sources to help surmount issues of power supply unpredictability and intermittency, especially in power-intensive industries like oil & gas, construction, and utility power generation, transmission and distribution.  

Temporary power plants can also provide supplemental power to renewable energy facilities during planning, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, operations and maintenance. Temporary power plants can help ensure that renewable energy plants are constructed and delivered on time and as planned, and that they remain efficient, reliable and in optimum condition at all times.

What are the preferred ranges that are most popular in the region and the industries that are catered to? Which are Altaaqa Global’s most popular genset ranges and contracts it has been awarded in the region?

The amount of required power vary from industry to industry. For instance, construction projects may require a few hundred kVA during the building phase to a few MW during the commissioning stage. Refinery maintenance and rehabilitation often requires several MW of power. The utility industry has the biggest demand, usually requiring power plants of tens or hundreds of MW to provide supplementary power to the grid. 

For our part, we provide multi-megawatt temporary power plants, focused on utility markets, extractive industries such as mining and oil and gas, large process industries and major construction infrastructure projects.  

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