Alstom is to put Microsoft technology at the heart of its software product development through a new collaboration targeting IT solutions for the power industry.
The two companies are planning to collaborate in a range of areas and are aiming to develop advanced IT solutions for power plants as well as for smart grid environments. Alstom hopes that the move will put it at the forefront of power IT as well as increasing Microsoft’s strong presence as a provider of end-user solutions.
The joint initiative will initially focus on power plant operation and maintenance applications through the integration of power plant control systems with business IT applications. The use of Microsoft technologies is expected to allow easier integration into IT applications in areas such as condition monitoring, plant simulation, trading and risk, and metering and settlements, according to Alstom.
Laurent Demortier, senior vice president of Alstom Power’s Energy Management Business (EMB), commented: “As an example, this new infrastructure will allow power plant operators to tie in their real-time plant scheduling decisions with wholesale power and carbon markets.”
In addition to carrying out research and development in IT and power generation control platforms, the two companies will collaborate on product marketing and sales and develop joint business initiatives to accelerate the integration of third-party software applications. Alstom says that the new Microsoft-based platforms will be in use at its Fujairah power plant in the UAE and its Flevo power plant in the Netherlands before the end of 2009.
Alstom sees Microsoft technology as a strategic facilitator for future smart grid environments, where digital technologies are used to save energy and costs. Jon Arnold, managing director, Microsoft Worldwide Utilities Industry said: “We are delighted to work with Alstom and share a vision of the innovation needed to create the smart energy ecosystem of the future that will help address issues like resource adequacy and operational efficiency as well as environmental concerns.”
“This initiative will allow Alstom and Microsoft to focus their expertise on developing innovative IT solutions for the power industry and, in the future, link all grid resources in a single harmonised environment,” said Demortier.
Linkedin
