Alstoms Smart Control Room Technology helps Nashville Electric Service achieve Demand Reduction Goals

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Alstom has finalized the delivery of a new Distribution Management System (DMS) that is helping the Nashville Electric Service (NES) reduce peak demand for electricity by as much as 40 MW. This new control room technology enables NES operators to reduce voltage and enhance situational awareness for improved efficiency, safety and reliability.

The new DMS is based on Alstom’s e-terradistribution 3.0 platform and features Alstom Grid’s industry-proven Integrated Volt-Var Optimization (IVVO) functionality. The technology allows NES to meet its Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, aimed at reducing peak demand for electricity. The DMS is also integrated with NES’ Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meter network to ensure that all voltages across the system comply with ANSI  standards.

NES engineers will use real-time power flow analysis and 3-phase unbalanced power flows within Alstom Grids Distribution Operators Training Simulator (DOTS) module for short-term grid management planning based on real-time system topology and conditions. NES also plans to use DOTS to allow their operators to examine complex switching schemes in study mode, both increasing operational efficiency and improving the safety of field crews.

Jack Baxter, NES Systems Operations Manager, commented on the DMS delivery, Our new DMS with IVVO enables optimized switching of our distribution capacitor banks to lower substation voltages and basically allows us to better manage the overall network. During the first two phases of this implementation, we compared load flow results over time and found that we reduced load by 20-24 MW, saving $2.4 million from April, 2011 to September, 2012. NES expects even more savings as we further maximize our efficiency with the new DMS.

Alstom Grid has a long-standing relationship with NES, which has been using our e-terra platform for years. They have been an active member of our Users Group community and we are proud to have delivered our leading edge DMS to support them in achieving their Smart Grid and energy conservation goals, said Karim El Naggar, Alstom Grid Vice President, Network Management Solutions.

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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 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 chainfrom power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

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Press Contact

Adam Pratt (U.S. Media Relations)

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adam.r.pratt@power.alstom.com