Alpiq has announced the completion of a four-year rehabilitation project at the Navizence hydropower station in Chippis, Switzerland.
Built in 1908, the Navizence or Chippis station is part of the 164MW Gougra SA power station, which comprises three plants (Mottec, Vissoie and Chippis), all fed by the 148x160m Moiry dam.
The scope of the rehabilitation work, which began in March 2010, involved replacing seven old horizontal machine groups (Pelton units) with three new 23.7MW vertical machine groups, as well as upgrading the hydromechanical and electrical equipment. The work was carried out without any major structural alterations between 2010 and 2014.
The new power station has a capacity of 70MW, of which 20MW is held in reserve in order to optimise power generation throughout the year, particularly during the planned maintenance work.
To celebrate the completion of the refurbishment, the Navizence power station in Chippis is reopening its doors to the public on Saturday 10 May 2014 from 10h to 17h.
Photo: Excavation work in the power station (Source: Alpiq)
