Alstom generates work on renewable energy project
ENGINEERING firm Alstom has been selected by UK Power Networks to work on a highly innovative project to produce cheaper renewable energy.
The Stafford-based firm will be working alongside other partners – all of which have been chosen for their experience, expertise and innovation culture – on the Flexible Plug and Play (FPP) Low Carbon Networks project. The project is designed to create faster integration of renewable energy into the existing electricity network.
The programme will trial innovative technical and commercial ways to provide the most flexible and cost effective method of connecting renewable energy to the distribution network.
The project is designed to comply with Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) plans to get 30% of the UK’s electricity generated from renewable energy sources by 2030.
Alstom will be responsible for providing protection and control systems including a Quadrature Booster unit, which controls the flow of power on electricity distribution networks. The Quadrature Booster will be built at its transformer factory in Stafford.
Commenting on the venture, Kevin Marriott, regional commercial vice president for Alstom Grid, said: “We are very proud to be a part of this project, and are fully committed to supporting this important initiative in the transition towards low carbon networks. The project will demonstrate significant benefits through the better integration of renewable energies in a more efficient electrical network.”
The Flexible Plug and Play project will run from January 2012 to December 2014 and will cost a total of £9.7m – £6.7m of which will be funded under Ofgem’s Low Carbon Network Fund scheme, £2m from UK Power Networks and the remaining funding from the project partners.
