Alstom to utilize ‘smart grid’ technology in Indonesia

Alstom will use its digital substation technology to help Indonesia’s state electricity company PT PLN to improve its service.

“We met with PLN recently and discussed a pilot installation of the digital substation. Things will happen, and I am sure we are going to do demonstration with them soon,” said Grégoire Poux-Guillaume, executive vice president of Alstom, which has operated in Indonesia since 1996.

“If you look at countries that have widely adopted the deployment of digital substations, a great example is China. Indonesia is not a fast mover in this area, but [this technology] is going be a big part of the solution going forward for Indonesia. We discussed it with PLN in July and I have high hopes that we’ll have something going pretty soon,” he said.

Alstom launched its Agile digital substations at a recent conference in Paris, France, as part of its “smart grid” technology products, to enhance energy transmission and distribution networks through digital control and monitoring.

The Agile digital substation provides instant communication with electrical power substations to promote communication, protection and primary equipment management. The company claims that this technology will help reduce carbon emissions, increase efficiency and reduce overall consumption.

Poux-Guillaume pointed out that key benefits of the digital substations include enhanced safety and reliability and improved safety for substation operators. By operating remotely, he said, PLN could use real time data to take action faster and mange its grid more effectively.

“It makes easier to manage the grid because you have complete information from all the substations. You know what’s happening and you can take action before it’s too late. So, the more a country is spread out, the more it has difficulties in accessing substations, and the longer the distances, the better the business case is for installing digital substations.”

Indonesia, he said, still relied on conventional technology and copper wiring.

Currently Indonesia's install base is conventional, and the country wouldn’t really get much of a benefit from the first few digital substations. "It is when you start installing quite a few of them that you really get the most value,” Poux-Guillaume continued.

Poux-Guillaume said that Alstom focused on further expanding in Indonesia rather than on developing efforts elsewhere, adding that the company hoped to implement a host of new technological upgrades the country.

However, Alstom is now facing increased competition in the field of power generation with the entry of Chinese companies, putting pressure on the firm to maintain its place in the market.

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