Alstom wins major contract with Cemig in Brazil to enhance transmission power quality in two substations

Alstom Grid has been selected by the Energy Company of Minas Gerais (Cemig) to provide systems to enhance power transmission in the Bom Despacho III and São Gotardo 2 substations, both located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This contract is worth around 20 million. Alstoms flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) help improve power quality and balance energy flow on the grid.

For the Bom Despacho substation project, Alstom will supply a Static VAr Compensator (SVC) with a power rating of -200/300 MVAr, as well as network connection equipment with nominal voltage of 500 kV. While improving operating costs, SVCs also balance the energy flow and manage the power oscillation damping and the supply of reactive power (capacitive or inductive) as required by the grid. Alstoms SVCs are known for their high level of reliability and availability.

This is the highest rated Static VAr Compensator that Alstom has installed in Brazil. The objective is to enhance power quality at the Bom Despacho substation - a major hub in Cemig's transmission system - using our state-of-the-art FACTS technology, commented Marco Finoti, Director of Alstom Grids Power Electronics business in Brazil and Latin America.

For the São Gotardo Substation, the scope of equipment supply includes a shunt capacitor bank connected to the 345 kV network, with a nominal power of 150 MVAr, and the network connection equipment.

The projects of São Gotardo and Bom Despacho will be delivered within 12 and 18 months respectively. In both substations Alstom is responsible for providing overall project management, including equipment, civil works, electromechanical assembly, design, management, supervision of erection and commissioning.

Alstom Grid originally supplied and delivered the Bom Despacho substation to Cemig in 2004.

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, 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 around 100 countries. It had sales of 20 billion and booked close to 22 billion in orders in 2011/12.

Alstom Grid has over 130 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 chain - from power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

Press Contacts 
Nathalie Bourotte (Alstom Grid) - +33 (0) 1 49 01 62 17; nathalie.bourotte@alstom.com

Juliana Souza (Alstom Brazil and Latin America) - + 55 11 3612-7071; juliana.souza@alstom.com

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