Alstom awarded Microgrid project by the US Energy Department

Alstom has been awarded the $1.2 million the Microgrid Research Development and System Design (RD&D) project by the US Energy Department (DoE). Alstom is one of seven organizations to receive microgrid funding ($8 million total) from the DOE. This project will support President Obama's Climate Action Plan and commitment to improve power grid resiliency in the USA and help critical facilities, communities and cities better prepare for possible electricity disruptions caused by extreme weather conditions. 

The objective of this funding is to perform research, development and testing of advanced microgrid controllers capable of managing and controlling microgrid systems to improve viability, reliability and resiliency of the electric distribution grid. Alstom will research and design community microgrid systems for the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD). The demonstration project will be implemented at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the 1,200-acre former naval shipyard, now transformed into a progressive and modern business campus with more than 145 companies, occupying more than 2 million square metres of space. 

Upon completion, part of the campus will be self-sufficient in generating, managing and storing electricity and will be able to operate independently from the main grid in case of an outage due to extreme weather or other extraordinary events. 

By combining Alstoms energy management and substation automation technology, The Microgrid Research Development and System Design (RD&D) project will provide PWD and PIDC with a comprehensive end-to-end Microgrid Controller System (MGCS) prototype which includes microgrid islanding, synchronization and reconnection, protection, voltage frequency, power quality management and system resiliency. 

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 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over 20 billion and booked 21.5 billion in orders in 2013/14. 

Alstom Grid has one clear vision: to develop innovative solutions for a flexible, reliable, affordable and sustainable electrical grid, everywhere. We design, manufacture, install and service the power transmission and distribution products and systems that empower the planets low carbon economy... for now and for the future.

Alstom Grid has over 130 years experience and ranks among the top three in the electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of 3.8 billion. Alstom Grids 17,000 employees are spread across 87 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide and have one common mission: be our customers trusted partner, from the source to the city.

We are energising a smarter world with Alstom.