Alstom Grid will Provide Tres Amigas LLC in the USA with First-of-its-Kind Smart Grid SuperStation

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Washington, D.C. - Alstom Grid today announced it has been awarded a contract worth approximately $200 million by Tres Amigas, LLC to deliver High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter and automation technology, as well as high availability system maintenance services, for the first stage of the Tres Amigas SuperStation project located in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

The SuperStation, a first-of-its-kind power transmission hub, ultimately will interconnect Americas three primary electricity grids, the Eastern (Southwest Power Pool), Western (Western Electricity Coordinating Council) and Texas (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) networks, facilitating the transfer of clean, renewable power from region to region. In addition to strengthening the reliability, transmission efficiency and capacity of the grids, the Smart Grid SuperStation will ensure stability when intermittent power sources such as wind, solar and geothermal are harnessed.

Under the contract, Alstom Grid will supply a 750 MegaWatt, 345 kiloVolt Direct Current converter scheme for the SuperStation, utilizing its latest Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology. Alstom Grids VSC is ideally suited for applications such as the connection of wind farms, whether onshore or offshore, and for the development of multi-terminal power grids.

This industry-leading project is the first large-scale connection between the three separate U.S. power grids, and represents the largest transmission Smart Grid project in the U.S. today. Besides immediate efficiency and reliability improvements, it also will deliver an electrical market system to help drive long-term competition between the regional grids, bringing benefits to residents, not only in the Southwest, but also across the country.

Tres Amigas is pleased to formalize the long-term working relationship with Alstom Grid for the realization of the first phase of the Tres Amigas SuperStation, said Phil Harris, CEO and founder of Tres Amigas, LLC. He added, Alstoms Voltage Source Converter technology offers the specific technical advantages required to make this interconnection a success, both from an economic and ecological point of view. Alstom Grid has exhibited the engineering acumen and understanding necessary to enable the three U.S. interconnections to be united in a reliable and cost effective manner.

Alstom Grid is highly honored to accompany Tres Amigas for the realisation of the Tres Amigas SuperStation, stated Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Grid. By connecting different networks, the Tres Amigas SuperStation will shape a more reliable and more efficient grid. We look forward to contributing our expertise in power electronics and automation, two technologies at the heart of Smart & Super Grids worldwide, to the success of this ambitious project.

"In North America, Alstom Grid recognizes the transformative and game-changing nature of the Tres Amigas SuperStation. Both innovative and practical, the SuperStation will transcend the energy policy legislative and political debate to enable a concrete and entrepreneurial Smart Grid solution that willaddress our nations economic and energy challenges. We are proud to be Tres Amigas' technological partner in this revolutionary Smart Grid project, added Keith Stentiford, Regional Vice-President of Alstom Grid in North America."

Engineering design for the transmission interconnection is underway, with construction scheduled to commence by 2012, and commercial operations expected in 2014.

About Tres Amigas, LLC
Tres Amigas, LLC is uniting the nations electric grid. Utilizing the latest advances in power grid technology, Tres Amigas is focused on providing the first common interconnection of Americas three power grids to help the country achieve its renewable energy goals and facilitate the smooth, reliable and efficient transfer of green power from region to region. Tres Amigas, LLC is a merchant transmission entity composed of electric utility industry operational, technology and thought leaders.

Based in Santa Fe, NM, Tres Amigas LLC is a business venture backed by a number of prominent investors and partners, including American Superconductor, AltEnergy, Z-Global Engineering & Energy Solutions, Viridity Energy, London Economics, Steptoe & Johnson, Burns & McDonnell, CH2M Hill, Power Engineers, and Xtreme Power Solutions. More information is available at www.tresamigasllc.com.

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 93,000 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over 23 billion* in 2009/10. (*Pro forma figures)

Alstom Grid, the newest sector of Alstom, formed following the recent acquisition of AREVAs Transmission activities on 7 June 2010, 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 their customers projects. Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with a sales turnover of approximately 3.5 billion in 2009. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. Its four main business areas are Products, Systems, Automation and Service. 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.

Press Contacts:
Tim Brown (US) +1 860 713 9530
timothy.s.brown@power.alstom.com

Gayle Wooster (Grid NAM) +1 425 466 6399
gayle.wooster@alstom.com

Emmanuelle Helleux (Global) +33 (0)1 49 01 70 87
emmanuelle.helleux@alstom.com

Website:
www.alstom.com
www.alstom.com/grid
www.alstom.com/us 

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