Alstom Smart Grid demonstration project receives funding from the US Department of Energy
Alstom Smart Grid demonstration project receives funding from the US Department of Energy
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Paris, December 2, 2010
Alstoms Smart Grid demonstration project has been selected by US Energy Secretary Steven Chu as one of the five projects, among some 40 applications, for USD 6 million federal funding aimed at optimizing the US electric grid with Smart Grid technologies. This DOE initiative, as part of the Obama Energy policy started in 2009, intends to develop these technologies to improve the grids energy efficiency, reliability, and carbon footprint.
The Alstom Grid (formerly Areva T&D) demonstration project was designed to efficiently integrate distributed energy resources* into the electric grid. Its objective is to help the DOE reach its Smart Grid Targets for 2030: a 20% reduction in the US electricity peak demand; a 100% availability to serve critical loads at all times (and a complementary range of reliability services for other loads); a 40% improvement in system efficiency; and an increase to a 20% share of the US electricity capacity coming from distributed and renewable energy sources (200GW).
The demonstration project will leverage Alstom Grids e-terradistribution Integrated Distribution Management System (IDMS), significantly enhancing the distribution grids reliability and efficiency while minimizing end user outages. Alstom Grid will develop advanced models and analytical tools for integrating multiple types of distributed energy resources (wind, solar, electrical vehicles, energy storage), while monitoring information from several distributed interfaces such as smart meters, advanced sensors and telecoms, across the distribution grid.
This project will be implemented with Alstom Grids ecosystem of partners, including utilities, laboratories and universities such as Duke Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, University of Washington and University of Connecticut.
Alstom Grid is grateful for this opportunity to gather expertise from our partner companies and demonstrate the practical application and benefits of our IDMS solution, including the integration of distributed generation, energy storage, electric vehicle charging and demand response into the electric distribution network, said Jean-Michel Cornille, Senior Vice President, Automation Business, Alstom Grid. He added, Through this project, we are proud to be part of the US Smart Grid initiative and help bring about the transformation of the US electric grid in the coming years.
Editors notes:
*Distributed Energy Resources: smaller-scale energy sources, including demand response, renewable energies such as wind turbines or rooftop solar, community energy storage, and electric vehicle charging at greater proximity to the end-user.
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 96,500 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, 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
James Millard (Alstom Grid) Tel : +33 1 34 96 92 54 (Paris)
Website www.alstom.com www.alstom.com/grid