Alstom and Russian Grids held conference on innovative development of the mid-Volga regions power grid

On September, 24th the scientific and technical conference "Technological Development of the Mid-Volga Region's Power Grid" took place in Samara. The participants discussed topical issues of introducing innovative grid technologies in the region. Representatives of Russian Grids and its associated companies, Alstom Grid, regional ministries of energy, design institutes and local colleges visited the event.

Industry experts evaluated the prospects of developing the "smart grids" and digital substations, elements of which are now being actively introduced in Russia.

Pavel Korsunov, Deputy Director for innovative development of the Russian Grids Company mentioned during his report that development of the power grids in the mid-Volga region is being planned with due consideration of new consumers and the load increase, in order to improve the reliability of power supply, remove transmission constraints and develop inter-system relations. He also said: "The total volume of investment for the power grid equipment of the Russian Grids in the mid-Volga region for 2013-2018 is planned to be 155.8 billion rubles. This will ensure the introduction of the capacity of 13,492 MVA and 10,901.6 km".

With a view to achieve these volumes in the mid-Volga region, Alstom Grid demonstrated the newest technologies and possible solutions for these projects. In particular, there were practical aspects considered of introducing smart grid technologies at the "Kuznetsk" 220 kV pilot digital substation in the Penza oblast.

"Now when the complexity of electrical transmission drastically increases around the world, there is also an increase in demand for effective management of the power systems.
The evolution of technology sets new tasks for manufacturers and operators, so the conferences like this one establish a dialogue on the most important technological questions between all the stakeholders.

The region of Middle Volga is unique and of strategic importance, as it links the regions Centre, South and the Urals. That is why Alstom Grid is extremely interested in the opportunity to contribute to the innovative development of the region", - said Gerhard Seyrling, Vice President of the "Alstom Grid" for Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.

The "Kuznetsk" 220 kV substation is the only source of electric power for the town of Kuznetsk (Penza oblast), so the implementation of the project for constructing the digital substation here is very important, as it is promoting modernization of the whole town's infrastructure.

Participants in the meeting are positive that the dialogue between the industry experts, regional authorities and developers of electrical equipment will facilitate further development of joint initiatives and will strengthen business collaboration between the parties.

Alstom Grid has over 130 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 the electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of more than 4 billion. It has 19,000 employees and around 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. At the heart of the development of the 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 Alstom:
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure, setting 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 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over 20 billion and booked close to 24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

The "Russian Grids" Open Joint Stock Company ("Rossety" OJSC) is Russia's and world's biggest energy company that ensures transmission and distribution of electric power. The Company transmission lines' length constitutes 2.3 mln. km and the transformers' capacity of 463 thousand substations is 726 Gigavolt-amperes. The staff of the "Rossety" Group of companies amounts to 213 thousand persons. The asset portfolio of the Company includes blocks of shares of 43 subsidiaries and affiliates, including blocks of shares of 11 interregional, 5 regional grid companies and a block of shares of a transmission network company. The controlling shareholder is the State to which 61.7 % of the shareholding capital belongs.

The "FGC UES" OJSC (www.fsk-ees.ru) was established in accordance with a program of reforming the electric power industry as a monopolistic operator for managing the Unified National Power Grid for the purpose of the grids' preservation and development. The company is a part of the "Rossety" OJSC's group of companies, which is the largest Russian energy holding companies that ensures transmission and distribution of electric power. The power grid's installations of the Federal Grid Company are located in 75 regions of the Russian Federation on the total area of more than 14.8 mln. sq. km. The company operates 131.6 thousand km of power supply lines and ensures functioning of 891 substations with the total installed transformer capacity of more than 334.8 thousand MVA of 35-1150 kV voltage type. The company employs more than 25 thousand persons.

Volga's Main Power Networks perform their activities on the territory of eight subjects of the RF of the total area of more than 500 thousand sq. km with the population of about 17 mln. people. This affiliate company operates 87 substations of the 220-500 kV capacity with a total capacity of 32,773.6 MVA and 11,531.48 km of power transmission lines.