The new site is to be named alstom Hydro China Co. Ltd (AHC) and will, over time, fully replace Alstom’s original factory in China, Tianjin alstom-hydro (TAH). Its construction is taking place in two main phases, with phase one already operational. To ensure gradual transition of the workload, Alstom’s existing factory TAH will remain operational until the second phase has been fully completed.
Representing an investment of just under EUR 110M, AHC is Alstom’s first carbon-neutral manufacturing site in China. Its energy-efficient design includes double insulation, heat recovery systems, a geothermal heating and cooling system that consumes 43% less energy, rainwater recycling and solar photovoltaic panels that will provide electricity for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation for the entire factory. In addition, skylights have been installed to take full advantage of natural light.
AHC will have a total area of nearly 250,000m2 and a production capacity that is 20% greater than the old site, capable of delivering up to 30 turbine and generator units per year with outputs ranging from 20MW to 1000MW.
“AHC places us in a great position to respond to demand and execute our order backlog in the Asian region, as well as having an eco-friendly design,” said Philippe Joubert, President of Alstom Power and Executive Vice-President of Alstom. “Its new location in the TAEZ industrial zone near Tianjin Airport provides us a lot of room for potential further expansion.”
The new facility will house a Global Technology Centre where Alstom will carry out R&D activities and test turbines developed for its customers. It will be Alstom Hydro’s third global technology centre, following the opening of Alstom’s centres in Grenoble, France and Vadodara, India in 2008.
Alstom is one of the leading hydro producers in China and, to date, has signed contracts for hydro turbines and generators covering 43GW in the country, out of which approximately 28GW are already in commercial operation.
The company also recently announced it had won a further EUR 50M contract to supply five 40MW bulb turbine and generator units for the Xiajiang hydroelectric project in Jiangxi province. The equipment for this project will be manufactured at the new AHC facility.
