Dear Friends,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year.
2009 was a difficult year for many companies in many industries, but also a year that brought changes that inspired hope in many people. While the North American and European automotive industries underwent painful transformations, the movement towards environmental responsibility reached a critical mass. The adoption of forward-thinking business practices in the automotive sector, the rapid development of intelligent power grids across the and energy industry, and changes in personal habits that put environmental concerns first has changed the way people around the world live and work.
The good news is that the global automotive, transportation and power generation & distribution industries have renewed their commitment to innovation and development of high quality products. Opal-RT simulators have been used by automakers and Tier-1 suppliers around the world to design, test and perfect the power electronics and power systems that drive the new breed of hybrid electric and all-electric vehicles. Our products have also been used by organizations that have mandates to develop better, more efficient and more environmentally-friendly motor drives, electrical trains, electrical ships, more electrical aircraft, renewable energy and intelligent power systems. As the automotive industry continues to recover and renewable energy system R&D continues to accelerate, automotive and energy-system engineers will have a greater need than ever before for simulation and testing tools that can translate those innovative ideas into reality.
The need for innovation in the auto industry is part of the larger global trend towards environmental responsibility. In a few short years, consumer attitudes have undergone a sea change. Consumer demand for comfort has been replaced by demands for high quality, affordable and above all, environmentally friendly products. And both government and industry have responded to the call.
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are changing the nature of existing and planned power grids; vehicles that use alternative energy sources are quickly becoming the norm, not the exception; manufacturing processes are becoming more efficient with careful attention paid to their environmental impact; and funding for research into new and renewable energy sources has gained momentum, both in the US and around the world.
The technologies used in all of these industries are now converging. For example, the same power electronic devices, topologies and control algorithms are now shared by engineers in many different disciplines. This is perfectly in line with Opal-RT’s product development strategy to develop simulators capable of representing sub-microsecond phenomena expected in both today’s small handheld electronic devices and in very large power systems that can span an entire continent.
Opal-RT’s roots are in the power industry. Prior to founding Opal-RT, I spent 25 years developing and using large-scale simulators for designing and studying very large high-voltage power grids. Those simulators achieved the highest level of efficiency by using sophisticated control technologies. I see a parallel in that experience with the experiences of today’s young power system engineers, who are developing new renewable energy systems and intelligent microgrids using the most innovative technologies available. Over the last 12 years, since Opal-RT’s founding, we have worked hard to evolve the state-of-the-simulation-art with the objective of making the best simulation technology available to every student, researcher and engineer who needs it, regardless of the size of their engineering project, budget or organizations. We believe that students, engineers and scientists should have access to high-fidelity virtual plant simulators that are capable of bringing their innovative ideas to reality; thereby bring dramatic improvements to tomorrow’s automobiles, aircraft, ships, trains and power systems. We believe that the engineer should only be limited by their imagination, not by the limitations of the engineering tools they use.
As a result of this vision and our power system and automotive experience, we believe we are now very well positioned to provide the affordable engineering tools that are required to bring the green revolution to the next level.
How are your simulation needs changing? How can Opal-RT help you achieve your design and research objectives? I invite you to contact me personally to discuss how we can help. Better yet, join me in person at Real Time 2010, Opal-RT’s 3rd Annual International User Conference. Taking place in June in Paris, France, Real Time 2010 will show case the many ways that electrical, mechanical and power electronic engineers are using Opal-RT simulators in a wide variety of applications.
On behalf of the Opal-RT team, thank you for your continued loyalty and business. I wish you the best in 2010.
Jean Belanger
CEO & Co-Founder, Opal-RT Technologies Inc.
