VIP Launch for ALSTOM'S Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator
17 September 2002 16:50
High ranking officers from the British, French and US navies are attending today’s official opening in Leicestershire, UK, of the Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator, developed and built by ALSTOM under a contract jointly funded by the UK and French MoD Procurement Agencies.
The opening ceremony at ALSTOM’s Technology Centre at Whetstone, near Leicester, will be conducted by Rear Admiral Nigel Guild, the Controller of the Royal Navy, and Ingénieur Général de l’Armement Jacques Lebreton of the French Delegation Generale pour l’Armement. The ceremony is part of a two-day programme of visits to the site by representatives from both British and French ministries, the British, French, US and other navies and industry specialists from around the world.
The Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator (ESTD) programme is jointly funded by the British and French defence ministries. The aim of the programme is to demonstrate and test the operation of an advanced naval electric propulsion system before applying the technology to a warship. The ESTD is a shore test facility containing half the electric propulsion plant needed to propel a warship. The equipment will be put through rigorous tests to ensure its suitability for warship use. ALSTOM won the contract to design, build and operate the demonstrator in July 2000.
The ESTD is an important step towards providing the two countries’ navies - and potentially the navies of other nations - with all the benefits of Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) for their future warships’ programmes. Studies have shown that integrated propulsion systems can provide operational savings for naval and commercial vessels.
ALSTOM’s electric propulsion is already used on the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer and IFEP is considered a serious contender in the UK for the Future Surface Combatant (FSC) and also for the Future Carrier (CVF). France is also considering it for the Multi-Mission Frigate and the Future Second Carrier.
When the British and French ESTD programmes have been completed, the demonstrator will be made available to other countries, or industries, for research activities.
Speaking after the ceremony, ALSTOM’s Naval Business Manager, Paul Norton, said:
'The ESTD has been a very successful project which has involved impressive teamwork between the UK Ministry, French DGA, ALSTOM and its contractors. It will make a significant contribution to the future power and propulsion systems of all the major navies of the world.'
ALSTOM is a global specialist in energy and transport infrastructure. The Company serves the energy market through its activities in the fields of power generation and power transmission and distribution, and the transport market through its activities in rail and marine. In fiscal year 2001/02, ALSTOM had annual sales in excess of €23 billion and employed more than 118,000 people in over 70 countries. ALSTOM is listed on the Paris, London and New York stock exchanges.
ALSTOM's Transmission and Distribution Sector (T&D), following the incorporation of the Power Conversion business finalised on April 1 2002, employs 33,000 people and is an active player around the globe. T&D designs, manufactures and supplies a complete range of equipment, systems and services for all stages in the transfer of electricity, from the generator to the end-user.
ALSTOM is the leading supplier and integrator of electric power and propulsion systems for naval vessels with an unrivalled experience since 1923.
For more information on this company:
Converteam - Naval Electric Power and Propulsion Packages
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