Alstom unveils Wuhan Boiler Company Ltd. in China

Alstom, the leader on Clean Power technologies and leading supplier of boilers worldwide, today inaugurated the new manufacturing site of Wuhan Boiler Company Ltd. (WBC) in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, a factory with an energy efficient design that will vastly increase the working conditions of its workers while considerably lightening Alstom's environmental footprint.

New energy-efficient factory will save 6,000 tonnes/year of CO2
while improving Alstom's manufacturing capabilities in China and the Asia Pacific
Alstom, the leader on Clean Power technologies and leading supplier of boilers worldwide, today inaugurated the new manufacturing site of Wuhan Boiler Company Ltd. (WBC) in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, a factory with an energy efficient design that will vastly increase the working conditions of its workers while considerably lightening Alstom's environmental footprint.

Numerous architectural innovations, including low-energy lighting, solar-powered water heaters, recyclable wooden insulation panels, recyclable flooring, and geothermal heat exchanges that use the earth's constant subterranean temperature to warm or cool the air will save 6,000 tonnes per year of CO2.

Energy efficiency in buildings is at the top of the Chinese government's agenda in order to reduce the country's energy intensity* by 20% between 2005 and 2010.

The factory, which represents a total investment of RMB 900 million (90 million), is also Alstom's largest utility boiler manufacturing site in the world. The factory will produce state-of-the-art equipment including large circulating fluidized bed boilers, high-efficiency 600 MW supercritical boilers and 1000 MW ultra-supercritical boilers, which reduce emissions of CO2.

With the factory now operational, Alstom has increased its manufacturing capabilities in China and the region while gaining direct access to the Chinese market, the world's largest market for boilers used in coal-fired power plants. The new WBC factory will allow Alstom to be closer to its customers in China. The site is also strategically positioned for Alstom to export up to one third of the boilers it produces.

Covering 463,000 square metres, with a 120,000 square metre workshop, a 15,000 square metre office building and a 6,000 square metre material laboratory, the factory highlights the paramount importance of China in Alstom's global strategy. With China generating 60% of its energy from coal, the market-leading efficiency of the boilers produced at WBC highlight Alstom's commitment to sustainable energy in China.

"Alstom is a global leader in clean power solutions and has a commitment to the Chinese market that spans over 50 years," said Philippe Joubert, President, Alstom Power. "With the establishment of the WBC factory, Alstom will to demonstrate its continued support for China in finding the cleanest possible solutions for the countrys coal-fired power plants as well as contributing to the development of the domestic power industry."

The supercritical and ultra supercritical boilers manufactured at the WBC factory will raise the efficiency of conventional coal fired power plants to close to 50%, leading to a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions.

"As one of the earliest and most important bases for heavy industry in China, Wuhan has built up a solid industrial foundation and cultivated a great deal of skilled workers. We have had a long history of development here with the establishment of two companies, the WBC factory and Alstom (Wuhan) Engineering & Technology Co., Ltd. Alstom has industrial bases in seven cities in China. We firmly believe that the new WBC factory will enable us to provide more cost competitive thermal power solutions to respond the rapidly changing and growing market," said Claude Burckbuchler, Alstom China President.

Alstom acquired 51% of the capital of the Wuhan Boiler Company Ltd (WBC) in 2007. The partnership provides WBC with access to markets abroad in addition to advanced Alstom technology, including supercritical and ultra-supercritical pulverized coal technology, circulating fluidized boilers and low-NOx combustion systems, and expertise in international management.

Alstom's investment in WBC enhances its product portfolio in the Chinese power market, where the group already produces 600 MW steam turbines and generators at one of its manufacturing sites near Beijing and hydro turbines and generators in Tianjin.

Editor's Notes
*Energy intensity, a term used in economics, is a way of measuring the energy efficiency of a nation's economy. It is calculated as units of energy per unit of GDP.

About Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation 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, and provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind. The Group employs 81,500 people in 70 countries, and had orders of 24,6 billion in 2008/09.

Press Contacts (Alstom Power)

Ding Li Tel +86 10 8460 9338 li.ding@crn.alstom.com
Susanne Shields Tel +33 1 41 49 27 22 susanne.shields@power.alstom.com