Alstom, Intel join hands

The deal, which the two signatories boasted “the fruit of three years’ close collaboration on projects”, focuses on embedded intelligence and information technologies (IT) systems security to facilitate a fast roll-out of new architectures for future grids.

Embix – a joint venture created by Alstom and Bouygues – and Intel Labs Europe have already joined forces in a research project focusing on ‘Positive–Energy’ districts, entitled ‘COOPERATE’ (Control and Optimization for Energy Positive Neighbourhoods)  and funded in the framework of EU’s Seventh Programme for Research.

"We are very excited to team with Intel to tackle the challenges presented by embedded intelligence and smart grid security, two of the key game-changers for the deployment of future grids,” said Patrick Plas, senior vice president for Power Electronics & Automation of Alstom Grid.

“Intel’s subsidiaries McAfee will help us reach our next step in the Smart Grid challenge, with specialised know-how in software solutions for cyber security management and embedded technologies,” he added.

Lorie Wigle, vice president for Security Fabric Program at McAfee said collaboration between Alstom and Intel would give the industry the right tools to accelerate adoption and deployment of a secure smart grid. “Alstom Grid has well-established credibility in this emerging marketplace and we’re delighted to contribute to their products and prototypes,” Wigle said.

Martin Curley, vice president and director of Intel Labs Europe, Intel Corporation adds: "This partnership with Alstom Grid will enable us to seamlessly integrate operational technology and information technologies (IT) in order to meet the current and future opportunities & challenges in this exciting industry.”

Alstom Grid has 130 years of expertise in electrical grids and ranks among the top 3 in the electrical transmission sector with annual sales 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 Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chain—from power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

The company already participates in over 30 global Smart Grid ‘pilot’ demonstrators across the world. Lessons learned from these projects have already led to concrete changes in control and monitoring architecture designs. The new architectures designs are derived from the latest international interoperability standards in in Europe (CEN-CENELEC-ESI) and NIST in the USA.