OREANDA-NEWS. Alstom has signed a bilateral agreement with the 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. Unlike other water treatments traditionally used, such as chlorine or ozone, UV rays are totally environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the UV technique requires little initial investment and is easy to maintain. 

“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”, declared Jacques Hardelay, Hydro Senior Vice President in Alstom’s Renewable Energies sector.

Benjamin Khan, Atlantium’s CEO and President, said “we are very proud to be part of the integral solutions for the power industry offered by a leading market player such as Alstom. This collaboration will provide Alstom’s customers with a unique, chemical-free and field-proven solution for their mussels and macro-fouling challenges”.

About Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over €20 billion and booked €21.5 billion in orders in 2013/14.

About Atlantium
Atlantium Technologies Ltd., founded in 2003, provides environmentally friendly water treatment/disinfection solutions that reduce energy consumption and chemical use, with field-proven applications for power plants, municipal water providers and the pharmaceutical, aquaculture, food & beverage and dairy industries. 

Atlantium's highly effective solutions, based on innovative Hydro-Optic UV technology, are validated to the highest regulatory standards including USEPA and USFDA. The company has an international customer base with installations all over the world.