ESTD blazes a trail for future naval electric power systems

摘要

Alstom has been pushing the boundaries of electrical power and propulsion systems with its Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator, and the company is now canvassing for business beyond the UK and France. Having successfully fulfilled their original charter, the operators of the Anglo-French Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator (ESTD) — which was inaugurated at Whetstone near Leicester in the UK in September 2002 — are now casting about for further commissions. The four-year US$27.8 million contract to build and operate the ESTD was awarded by the French Delegation Generate pour l'Arm-ement and the UK Ministry of Defence to Alstom Power Conversion in July 2000. Alstom styles itself as "the world's number-one naval electric propulsion system supplier", on the basis that it has supplied systems of this type for service aboard more than 80 vessels in the naval sphere and that its technology readiness level is higher than that of any of its rivals (see box).