(From right) Miraillet, Al Tayer, Poux-Guillaume and Al Mazrouei

ALSTOM has opened in Dubai the first smart grid centre in the Middle East, describing it as a major step in its long-term commitment to providing sustainable electricity infrastructure to the UAE and the region.

The facility was jointly inaugurated by Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa)’s managing director and CEO, and Grégoire Poux-Guillaume, president of Alstom Grid.

“The centre, first of its kind in the region, will enable Alstom’s 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 the most efficient implementation of new technologies as customers use smart grid solutions to monitor and manage their own networks,” an Alstom statement said.

“The inauguration of Alstom Smart Grid Centre in Dubai is a cornerstone of the group’s commitment to the development of the smart grid in the United Arab Emirates and Middle East region,” said Poux-Guillaume. “As smart grid technologies are integrated to existing infrastructure, customers in the region will benefit from the centre’s close links to Alstom’s state-of-the-art smart grid centres in France and the US, using tools and processes with the latest technologies, and ongoing support from Alstom experts worldwide – in real-time,” Poux-Guillaume added.

Present at the opening ceremony were the French ambassador to the UAE, Michel Miraillet, and the CEO of Emirates Aluminium, Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrouei.

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 fields of integrated distribution management systems, asset management solutions and wide area monitoring systems – all contributing to a more reliable and sustainable electrical grid.

Alstom Grid is an important contributor to the development and growth of the UAE and Middle East countries, delivering state-of-the-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.

 

LOCAL UNITS, SKILLS

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

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

In Dubai, 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

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 minimise 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 the regional customer with Alstom’s latest substation protection and automation equipment

• First Alstom’s 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.

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure The group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries, had sales of over €20 billion ($27.7 billion) and booked close to €24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

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.