Alstom Grid Psymetrix PhasorPoint improves power network stability for Manitoba Hydro in Canada

Alstom Grid was awarded a contract by Canadas Manitoba Hydro ₍₁₎ , a major electric and natural gas power utility, to deliver Psymetrix PhasorPoint software suite for improved wide area visualization and smart grid control room operation.

With recently installed Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), Alstom-Psymetrixs PhasorPoint will allow Manitoba Hydro to have a real-time wide area view of its power system, which will help identify and mitigate potential causes of instabilities in its electric grid before they develop into significant disturbances and possible failures. This is particularly important where remote energy resources are connected to load centers along very long transmission lines.

In 2011/2012 Manitoba Hydro will commission a 165 MVAr static VAr compensator ₍₂₎ and a 200 MW hydro power plant. Both facilities will be equipped with power system stabilizers.

With PhasorPoint, we will be able to monitor and analyze critical circuits in the power system in real time, utilize the wide area view to optimize controller settings, to access archived wide area time-stamped data for event analysis, and to improve our grid reliability. It is possible in the future, that this system will form an integral part of our suite of on-line tools to maximize the use of our transmission circuits while maintaining our high level of reliability, said Michelle Rheault Manitoba Hydros System Performance Department Manager.

Our partnership of 13 years with Manitoba Hydro has entered a new and exciting stage. Our first EMS went live in 1998. Today, PhasorPoint becomes an integral part of Manitoba Hydros power system. This demonstrates our commitment to work with our customers in shaping and leading the development of an efficient and cost effective smart grid, said Karim El-Naggar, Vice President, Network Management Solutions, Alstom Grid.

_{(1) Manitoba Hydro has more than 537,000 electric power customers and more than 265,000 natural gas customers. Most of its electrical energy is provided by hydroelectric power making the company one of the lowest cost providers of electricity rates in Canada. It operates 14 inter-connected hydroelectric generating stations in the province.}

_{(2) Static VAr Compensators (or Fixed and Relocatable SVCs) are dynamically variable sources of reactive power to stabilise the voltage, damp system instabilities and reduce flicker for both transmission and industrial applications.}

About Alstom

Alstom 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 92,700 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.

Psymetrix, an Alstom company since 2011, is an industry leader in phasor-based wide-area monitoring (WAMS) and control solutions for the improvement of power system dynamic performance and integration of renewables. Psymetrix solutions are used by power system operators and planners worldwide for improving power system security, securely increasing power transfer levels and tracking power system performance, including dynamics, model validation, tuning of power system stabilisers and more.

Press contacts

Emmanuelle 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

Gayle Wooster (Alstom Grid USA): gayle.wooster@alstom.com / Tel: +1 425 250 2723

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