Alstom wins FACTS order with Hydro-Québec

Alstom Grid has been awarded a contract by Hydro-Québec - one of North Americas largest utilities - to design, supply and install a new 315 kV Static VAr Compensator (SVC) at the Figuery substation located in Amos, Quebec.  This substation is critical to the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of the province, which is facing growing industrial demand driven in large part by the areas mining sector.  Commissioning of the new unit is expected in December 2014. 

Reinforcing the transmission system near Amos with proven, power electronics-based Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) equipment will improve the electric transmission capacity of the region. 

We hear often of the need to reinforce the grid.  With this project, Hydro-Québec is making an investment in its current grid infrastructure that will drive significant benefit for its commercial and industrial customers, said Michael Atkinson, President of Alstom Grid North America.  The businesses that will benefit from this investment will drive new economic activity and have the potential to create new job opportunities, underscoring the broader benefits of modernising the power transmission network.

The Hydro-Québec transmission system comprises 33,630 km of lines, 514 substations, and interconnections with electric grids in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and the northeastern United States.  There are 1,682 km of lines in the Abitbi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec where industrial activities represent approximately 64% of all electricity sales in the area.  The new SVC will be largest one ever installed on Hydro-Québecs 315 kV network.

Alstom Grid has been supplying SVCs to Canadian grid operators and industry for more than 20 years, with references in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, as well as Quebec.

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 92,000 people in around 100 countries.  It had sales of 20 billion and booked close to 22 billion in orders in 2011/12.

Alstom Grid 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 its customers projects.  Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of more than 4 billion.  It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide.  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. 

Press Contact 
Nathalie Bourotte (Alstom Grid) Tel.: +33 (0) 1 49 01 62 17  nathalie.bourotte@alstom.com

Michelle Stein (Alstom Canada) Tel.: +1 (514) 281-6200, +1 (514) 770-5083
michelle.stein@power.alstom.com

Website www.alstom.com, www.alsom.com/grid

Shunt compensation, produced either by an SVC  or a STATCOM is used when power quality issues are a concern.