Alstom Grid Tapped to Drive U.S. Smart Grid Projects, Policy

October has been a very active and exciting month for Alstom Grid in the United States. Early on, Dr. Lawrence E. Jones, Director of Strategy and Special Projects, Worldwide, was appointed to a three-year term on the newly-formed U.S. Smart Grid Advisory Committee (SGAC) led by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology. Through his role on the panel, Dr. Jones will contribute his perspective on technologies and policies essential to the evolution of America’s smarter electricity grids, while also helping to assess and monitor the status of ongoing Smart Grid rollouts. Drawing on more than 20 years of energy industry experience, Dr. Jones also will work with the SGAC members to drive the adoption of Smart Grid interoperability standards and best practices to guide projects across the country.

Dr. Jones has held several positions with Alstom Grid, formerly Areva T&D, including Director of Business Development for the Americas and Director of the Transmission Optimization and Partnering (TOP), which was formed in response to a series of blackouts in the U.S. and other parts of the world in 2003. He is a frequent contributor to and reviewer of industry and academic publications. Click here to read the Alstom press release on his appointment.

More recently, Alstom Grid announced it has been selected to provide High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology for the Tres Amigas SuperStation, a first-of-its-kind project that will link America’s three largest electricity networks. Alstom HVDC technology will provide the vital backbone of the Tres Amigas project, enabling electricity to be transmitted between the three asynchronous networks – meaning that for the first time, renewable energy generated on the West Coast or in Texas could be delivered to consumers on the Eastern Seaboard. Combined with state-of-the-art Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology, HVDC is a key component of Alstom’s Grid’ ‘Evergreen’ Smart Grid strategy. Using this hybrid technology approach, the company is working closely with customers to enhance existing, tried-and-true transmission technology with cutting-edge equipment that will increase the reliability, flexibility and sophistication of America’s grid. Click here to read the full text of the announcement.

Shortly after the announcement, Dr. Lawrence Jones sat down with E&E TV reporter Monica Trauzzi to discuss the role of Tres Amigas within America’s smart grid transition.

Click here to watch the interview.

• Tres Amigas Website

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