Alstom Grid in Stafford awarded prizes for pioneering Research and Development

Local skills and expertise were celebrated within the international Alstom Grid organisation on Thursday, April 26, at an awards ceremony which recognised the outstanding achievements in power electronic systems at the Alstom Grid Centre of Excellence, in Stafford.

A leading supplier of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems to the worldwide market, Alstom Grid UK, based in Stafford, was awarded three prizes at the ceremony which celebrated pioneering technologies and research developments.

Certificates were presented to six members of staff involved in the Voltage Source Converter (VSC) R&D project, which picked up the prize for the Best Technology Project. The VSC technology is the HVDC equipment which will be used in Alstoms multi-million pound contract from the Swedish state-owned utility Svenska Kraftnät, awarded in December 2011.

A team of 21 employees were recognised for their contribution to the book HVDC: Connecting to the future, which was awarded the prize for Best Publication in recognition of its role in increasing customer understanding of HVDC technologies.

In addition, three inventive employees also picked up the coveted Alstom UK Presidents Award for Innovation 2011 for their HVDC valve communication system. The honour is awarded by Alstom UK Country President Stephen Burgin in recognition for employees on-going commitment to innovation in developing new products, technologies and services.

The ceremony was held at Alstom Grids Stafford site on St Leonards Avenue. A substantial employer in the region, Alstom Grid is set to recruit in excess of 100 additional people over the next three years in Stafford as part of its commitment to investing in local skills.

We are very proud that the skills and expertise of our staff have been celebrated in this way, comments Kevin Marriott, Regional Commercial Vice President for North West Europe at Alstom Grid. The pioneering research, design and construction of HVDC technology right here in Stafford is part of Alstoms wider development as a world leader in this highly advanced technology and these awards demonstrate the capabilities and dedication of our team.