Alstom inaugurates Middle Easts first Smart Grid Centre in Dubai

Today, Alstom announced the opening of the first Smart Grid Centre in the Middle East, a major step in its long term commitment to providing sustainable electricity infrastructure to the United Arab Emirates and the region. The facility in Dubai was inaugurated by His Excellency Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, DEWAs Managing Director and CEO, and Grégoire Poux-Guillaume, President of Alstom Grid.

This centre, the first of its kind in the region, will enable Alstoms customers to locally develop and integrate software and perform factory acceptance tests on site. Customised training on all Smart Grid applications will also be provided, using simulated protected customer network data for case studies, ensuring to the most efficient implementation of new technologies as customers use Smart Grid solutions to monitor and manage their own networks.

The inauguration of Alstom Smart Grid Centre in Dubai is a cornerstone of the groups commitment to the development of the Smart Grid in the United Arab Emirates and Middle East region, said Grégoire Poux-Guillaume, President of Alstom Grid. As Smart Grid technologies are integrated to existing infrastructure , customers in the region will benefit from the centres close links to Alstoms state-of-the-art Smart Grid Centres in France and USA, using tools and processes with the latest technologies, and ongoing support from Alstom experts worldwide -  in real-time. 

The Middle East region faces increasing demand for electricity, grid reliability, stability, and lower environmental impact, and the introduction of digital equipment and software applications into existing infrastructures will help power generation and electrical utilities to interconnect existing assets and optimise network control, making the most of energy available and ultimately working towards a smarter Grid with a lower carbon footprint. 

With a legacy of over 30 years in the region, Alstom has solid references in the field of integrated distribution management systems, asset management solutions, wide area monitoring systems, all contributing to a more reliable and sustainable electrical grid.

Over 30 years of commitment in UAE / Near and Middle East region:
Alstom Grid is an important contributor to the development and growth of the United Arab Emirates and Middle East countries, delivering state of art and critical electrical infrastructure projects. It stands among the top three suppliers of extra-high voltage (EHV), high voltage (HV) and high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission equipment in the world.

Alstom Grids local units include: Solutions Group Unit, Substation Automation Systems (SAS) Unit, Network Management Systems (NMS) Unit, Service Unit and a state-of-the-art substation automation integration and testing facility.

Regional hub for network management systems:

Alstom is world leader for network management systems, allowing its customers worldwide to optimise global grid performance.

In Dubai UAE, a dedicated team of experts provides tailored solutions in the entire region, including:

• Integration of software solutions for control room and smart grid applications
• Design and engineering of telecom solutions dedicated to the power network

Better energy management with Smart Grid and Super Grid solutions:

Alstom has local expertise in network management, substations automation and power electronics systems. Its technologies for enhanced transmission and distribution networks use digital control monitoring and telecommunications enabling real time monitoring and energy management. Alstom is a trailblazer in Smart Grid and Super Grid technologies, breaking ground with various projects in the Middle East including:

• Fully integrated Distribution Management Systems (iDMS) in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain allowing customer to pilot in real time their entire grids and minimize energy losses
• Wide area monitoring systems (WAMS) and stability solutions for GCCIA interconnection project to guarantee stability and reliability of grid networks in GCC countries.
• Asset Management in Qatar allowing customers to have exhaustive technical status on grid infrastructure assets to identify maintenance needs.
• Substation automation integration and testing facility in the UAE, performing factory acceptance tests for protection cubicles
• Integration of protection and control panels in Saudi Arabia, to supply regional customer with Alstoms latest substation protection and automation equipment
• First Alstoms energy market management system in Saudi Arabia: this will interconnect regional control centres of Gulf countries through GCCIA and enable the management of an electricity wholesale market between various stakeholders.

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 close to 24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

About Alstom Grid

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 more than 4 billion. Alstom Grids 19,000 employees are spread across 88 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.

Press Contacts  

Nathalie Bourotte: nathalie.bourotte@alstom.com Tel: +33 (0)1 49 01 62 17
Aline Besselièvre: aline.besselievre@alstom.com Tel: +33 (0)1 49 01 67 60 

UBIFRANCE
Tarek SOLIMANE (Head of communications Ubifrance GCC  -  Egypt  -  Lebanon )
Tel: +971 (0)4 408 49 91  / Mob.: +971 (0)50 708 24 69

Tarek.SOLIMANE@ubifrance.fr

Website www.alstom.com