Alstom to supply Exelon with retrofit equipment

Alstom, a global leader in power generation, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Exelon Corporation, one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., to supply and install steam turbine retrofit equipment at three of ExelonÂ’s nuclear power generation facilities.

Those facilities are Quad Cities (Cordova, IL), Dresden (Grundy County, IL) and Peach Bottom (York County, PA). Exelon operates the largest nuclear fleet in the nation and third largest fleet in the world, with ten stations (seventeen reactors), representing approximately 20% of the U.S. nuclear industryÂ’s power capacity.

The estimated value of the contract is approximately $420 million. Alstom has already begun work on the first project under the agreement – the retrofit replacement of three low pressure steam turbine sections at the Quad Cities power station.

“We are very pleased to have been selected by Exelon to provide essential technology to upgrade their nuclear steam turbines,” said Philippe Joubert, Alstom executive vice president and president of Alstom Power Systems. “As the world's largest supplier of nuclear turbine systems, we offer both experience and a history of innovation that make us the right partner for Exelon.”

Steam turbine technology is continually improving, and replacing old components of a steam turbine with AlstomÂ’s state-of-the-art technology will result in improved efficiency, greater reliability and increased capacity for the remaining life of these plants. The retrofit of Exelon steam turbines is expected to increase output by approximately 40MW per power generating unit.

Alstom, with operations in 70 countries, brings international expertise and extensive knowledge of local markets as a fully integrated provider of clean, efficient and technologically advanced power generation solutions in all key energy markets (including coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro and wind). As the worldÂ’s No. 1 supplier of nuclear turbine systems, Alstom has installed more than 178 units worldwide, meaning more than 30% of the entire worldwide nuclear installed base uses Alstom equipment.

The Exelon retrofit equipment for the first project is being manufactured by Alstom in Belfort, France and Morelia, Mexico with components for subsequent projects to be manufactured in Chattanooga, TN.

In December 2007, Alstom announced an investment of over $200 million in a new facility in Chattanooga, which will allow the company to increase significantly its manufacturing and engineering capacity in the U.S. at a time when demand for power generation equipment and services in this country is at a high level.

The new facility will give Alstom the capability to manufacture nuclear steam turbines including components for these retrofits. Alstom believes nuclear energy offers a carbon-free, efficient, viable alternative for meeting the increasing demand in energy in the U.S.