Alstom to enhance reliability of FirstEnergys transmission network

Alstom has been awarded a contract worth approximately $30 million to supply a new 300 MVAr, 230 kV Static VAR Compensator (SVC)[1] system with long-term warranty for FirstEnergy Corporation’s Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) unit. Alstom will design, manufacture, construct, install, test and commission the new SVC, to be located in West Wharton, New Jersey. The device will regulate transmission voltage to maintain and enhance network performance.

This project is also part of FirstEnergy’s ‘Energizing the Future’ program to strengthen the network backbone across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. The program will update and modernize existing equipment with new technology, enhancing electricity service reliability to over 6 million customers. Alstom’s SVC will protect the network against disturbances, such as faults, and thus lessen the occurrence of power outages.

“Enhancing the reliability and security of our nation’s energy grid is a challenge that must be addressed by leveraging new and existing assets,” said Michael Atkinson, President of Alstom Grid North America. “FirstEnergy has made a major commitment to strengthen its network.”

This contract encompasses software systems, substation products, services and turnkey projects. Work will be completed locally by experts at Alstom’s Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) Center of Excellence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2015.

[1] Static VAR Compensator is a Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) technology that provides voltage stability to the power system.