Alstom Grid hosts CIGRE UK Conference in Stafford

Alstom Grid, the UKs largest manufacturer of power transmission equipment, hosted an event in September organised by one of the leading worldwide Electric Power Systems organisations. CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems) is composed of engineering personnel and specialists worldwide, including those at the forefront of the UKs power system development.

The 150-strong delegation for the CIGRE UK event joined together in Stafford near Alstom Grids Centre of Excellence in the United Kingdom to facilitate and exchange information on the connection of remote offshore wind farms. During the conference, several technical visits were organised by Alstom Grid. Delegates visited the companys Power Transformer facility, their High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Thyristor Valve Test facility and the recently completed Voltage Source Converter (VSC) Demonstrator facility. The tour of the power transformer factory showed the complete process of building a large power transformer. 

The Power Transformer facility, the only high power, high voltage facility of its kind in the UK, recently benefited from a multi-million pound investment, representing a state-of-the-art transformer design, manufacturing and testing facility. The unit can build transformers up to 1000 kV AC (Alternating Current), HVDC converter transformers up to 800 kV DC (Direct Current) and specialised designs such as quadrature booster transformers. Alstoms Valve Test Facility is one of the few such specialised laboratories in the world, where high power, high voltage thyristor valves can be fully tested for use on HVDC projects.

Alstom Grids VSC HVDC demonstrator is the first UK-based HVDC facility showcasing next generation technology in real time. Based around a complete 25 MW VSC HVDC converter station operating in a backtoback mode, this development centre is used for testing and the investigation of VSC circuit topologies and control algorithm design. The power electronics equipment used in the demonstrator is identical to that used for larger installations, but with fewer modules, commensurate with its DC operating voltage (±12 kV).  This new generation of technology, named HVDC MaxSine, will be the heart of future offshore wind connection systems.

CIGRE UK Conference Chairman, Dr. Norman MacLeod, Technical Marketing Director for Power Electronics at Alstom Grid who helped to organise and host the event, declared: The UK Government has set defined targets for the proportion of electricity to be generated from renewable sources.  A large amount of the renewable energy required will have to come from offshore wind generation to meet these targets as opportunities to site turbines on shore are limited.  As these offshore wind farms are remotely located from the shore, the engineering of their connection needs careful consideration.  He continues: «The equipment and network design required was discussed in detail at this years CIGRE UK conference, by some of the worlds leading experts in this field, further stimulating the debate about the future of energy.

About AlstomAlstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world. It provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 92,000 people in 100 countries and had sales of 20.9 billion in 2010/11.

Alstom Grid has over 100 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to its customers projects.  Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of more than 4 billion. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chainfrom power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

About CIGRECIGRE, the Council on Large Electric Systems, calls on professionals from across the globe to meet the global challenges faced by electric power systems by sharing expertise and joining forces to improve existing systems and to build the electrical power systems of the future. International experts working together and exchanging information across the industry is key to the sustainable development of electric power.
Founded in 1921, CIGRE is an international non-profit association for promoting collaboration on a national and international level. As research workers, academics, engineers, technicians, CEOs and other decision makers, CIGRE members offer expertise, best practice and unique perspectives to all industry stakeholders, from system operators, manufacturers and producers to traders and regulatory bodies. The goal of CIGRE is to continuously build our knowledge base, fostering technology innovation in the interests of everyone in our community and industry.
CIGRE UK is the National Committee of CIGRE and organises events for UK members and provides a focus for UK members to contribute to the global development of power systems.
For more information: www.cigre-uk.org 

Press contactsEmmanuelle Helleux: emmanuelle.helleux@alstom.com  / Tel: +33 1 49 01 70 87
Aline Besselièvre: aline.besselievre@alstom.com / Tel: + 33 1 49 01 69 04

Suzanne Murphy or Sarah Warren (Golley Slater PR, Birmingham) Tel: +44 121 384 9700
smurphy@golleyslater.co.uk or swarren@golleyslater.co.uk 

Website www.alstom.com - www.alstom.com/grid