Alstom reinforces its Smart Grid capabilities in online stability with the acquisition of IT expert Psymetrix

A long-standing strategic technology partnership is formalised today as Alstom Grid announces the completion of its acquisition of Psymetrix, the UK-based Smart Grid applications company with international expertise in Wide Area Monitoring Systems (WAMS) , a key technology segment in the electrical grid control room market.

Psymetrix was created in 1997, and has since established a strong reputation in phasor-based applications and online stability solutions for grid utilities (TSOs, Transmission System Operators) substations and central systems. With a staff of 10 employees, the company supplies 18 customer utilities worldwide and generated around 2 million in sales in 2010. The company will bring complementary expertise to Alstoms Smart Grid online stability solutions, and will continue to operate from its Edinburgh headquarters, retaining the same staff and its quality products and solutions.

Psymetrix software gives TSOs and power utilities the ability to increase power transfers in their systems and improve the reliability of their networks while decreasing overall system risk. By combining their expertise, Alstom and Psymetrix plan to develop and launch new critical software applications for power electronics, advanced control, substation automation, grid self healing and defense plans, targeting grid utilities as well as power plant operators.

Alstom Grid and Psymetrix have already established a track record of successful joint projects in South Africa and Sweden, providing comprehensive integrated Energy Management System (EMS) and WAMS platforms such as those currently under delivery to Swedish TSO Svenksa Kraftnät. This acquisition further strengthens Alstoms already leading position in the Smart Grid control room market by making Alstom the undisputed leader for grid stabillity solutions. It will allow Alstom and Psymetrix to accelerate their development in the new fast-growing WAMS markets, such as North America and China, from 2011 onwards.

Psymetrixs expertise is a significant step forward toward strengthening Alstoms recognized leadership in the grid control room arena, as our synergy will help build comprehensive Smart Grid online stability and grid defense plan solutions, and develop next generation software applications to manage grid security dynamically both at Transmission and Distribution levels, said Jean-Michel Cornille, Senior Vice-President Automation and Smart Grids, Alstom Grid.

Dr. Jos Trehern, Chief Executive of Psymetrix declared: We have been long-term partners of Alstom Grid and are delighted to have our expertise recognised through this formal agreement. We look forward to working with Alstom to build on our existing successes and to provide increasingly valuable solutions to our customers.

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 93,000 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.

About Psymetrix
Psymetrix is an industry leader in phasor-based wide-area monitoring and control solutions for the improvement of power system dynamic performance and integration of renewables. Psymetrix solutions are used by power system operators and planners worldwide for improving power system security, securely increasing power transfer levels and tracking power system performance, including dynamics, model validation, tuning of power system stabilisers and more.

¹ WAMS: software systems that acquire, manage, analyse, monitor and store phasor data from network infrastructures over a wide area
² Phasor-based applications: applications using phasor data to provide vital information on the dynamic performance and behavior of power systems, helping to avoid blackouts and increase power transfers

^{Press Contact
Andrés López Morancho, Alstom España Tel.: +34 91 334 58 00; andres.lopez-morancho@crn.alstom.com
Conchi Gonzalez, Alstom Grid - Tel. +34 91 305 9203; conchi.gonzalez@areva-td.es
www.alstom.com www.grid.alstom.com}
 

• Grid Press Release 2.6