IBM opens Nuclear Centre of Excellence in France
02 July 2007
IBM will establish a Global Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Power at its La Gaude site, near Cadarache, France. The centre will "support safe, reliable and efficient electricity generation", extending the expertise currently available in France to clients worldwide.
IBM has experience in consulting and design of IT systems for the nuclear industry in France. The new Centre extends IBM's work to support improved design, construction, safety and operation of power plants based on IBM software, hardware, consulting, and services industry offerings.
The importance of skills available in France were emphasized by Frederic Bauchot, Lead Architect at the Centre, who said that IBM would not only be using existing local IBM experience, but also seeking to use the advanced skills present in a leading nuclear power market. IBM had previously established Centres of Excellence in other areas of the Energy and Utilities Industry in Dallas and Austin in the US, Tokyo, and Beijing.
"Today, there are more than 30 countries worldwide operating nuclear reactors for electricity generation. In these countries, nuclear power plant licence extensions and new plant construction are driving the need for sophisticated risk modelling and information tools that ensure safe and reliable operations," said Guido Bartels, General Manager, IBM Global Energy and Utilities Industry. "IBM is uniquely qualified to help the nuclear power industry meet these needs. This centre is consistent with our long term strategic vision that a diverse energy portfolio - including nuclear power and renewable energy - as well as more efficient fossil generation, and a smart grid are the key to meeting growing global energy demand while protecting the environment."
The Nuclear Power Centre of Excellence joins facilities at La Gaude already dealing with retail, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, insurance and telecommunications simulations.
IBM have announced that the new Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Power will seek to establish strategic relationships with other industrial partners of the nuclear power industry, as well as industry regulators. Governance for the new Centre of Excellence will be provided by the IBM Nuclear Advisory Council. The Advisory Council consists of representatives from DTE Energy, Southern Company, Constellation Energy, as well as Michael Golay, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Rick Machon, Founder of Machon & Associates and former Site Vice President and Nuclear Chief Operating Officer, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); and Craven Crowell, Managing Director of Mercer Management Consulting's Nuclear Practice and former Chairman of TVA.
Recently IBM acquired MRO Software, who developed the Maximo software application. "Maximo for Nuclear Power" manages the life cycle of assets across nuclear plants and fleets by streamlining and automating key asset management processes. The new Centre will have close ties with Maximo development labs in the US and Brazil to help customers worldwide successfully implement the Maximo Nuclear Solution.
Since 2003, MRO Software has been working with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), customers, development partners and the MRO Software Nuclear Advisory Council. These collaborative relationships led to the introduction of Maximo Nuclear, an SOA-based application which was developed with the deep functionality required to support key processes in the Standard Nuclear Performance Model (SNPM).
Further information
IBM Energy and Utilities
WNA's Nuclear Power in France information paper