Alstom has joined forces with Israeli company Atlantium to expand the use of an innovative water treatment solution using ultraviolet rays (UV) in hydropower equipment.
The technique destroys microorganisms that proliferate in the auxiliary water circuits of hydropower equipment (Balance of Plant, cooling systems, etc.). This invasive aquatic species (algae, mussels, bacteria, etc.) pose a serious problem for the hydropower industry, particularly on the American continent: they can slow the water flow in installations or even block pipes, thus requiring costly maintenance.
To solve the problem, Atlantium has developed an innovative water treatment technique involving ultraviolet rays used especially in the pharmaceuticals and chemicals industries. The UV rays, diffused by a lamp embedded in Plexiglas tubes, prevent the invasive species from reproducing. The UV rays are environmentally friendly, and the technique requires little initial investment and is easy to maintain, the companies said in a statement.
"With this agreement, Alstom will enable its customers to benefit from an innovative, low-cost, environmentally respectful technique that has already proven itself in other industries and consolidates its position as the leader in services provision in the hydropower market", said Jacques Hardelay, Hydro Senior Vice President in Alstom’s Renewable Energies sector.
