Voith Hydro is to build and install new generators at the Bridge River Powerhouse II in British Columbia, Canada, in a single source contract awarded by BC Hydro.
The contract covers the replacement of Units 7 and 8, which were originally installed in the powerhouse in the 1940s. The deal falls under a master service agreement between BC Hydro and Voith Hydro.
As the project contractor, Voith is responsible for all aspects of the project, from planning, design and scheduling to construction, installation and commissioning. They will consult directly with BC Hydro engineers to ensure it meets the power producer’s needs. Through the life of the project, Voith will deliver and install a number of generator components including multi-turn coils, stators, rotors, bearings, field poles, sole plates and instrumentation.
“A key part of the scope of this project was to improve the units’ energy output,” said Eric Lamontagne, Vice President of Account Management, Voith Hydro, North America. “We’re doing that with a modernized generator design and components. Aside from being good for BC Hydro’s customers, these improvements also help the B.C. government meet its low carbon emission goal by boosting the capabilities of its existing clean-energy generation facilities.”
The design and production of components for these units will take place at Voith locations in Canada, the US. and Brazil in Voith Hydro manufacturing plants. The multi-turn coil technology used in the generators exceeds Canadian Insulation Standards. After basic construction, the generators will be assembled from those components on site at Bridge River Powerhouse II. Two subcontractors, FMI and the Tsa’alh Development Corporation, will assist on the work locally.
“This is an exciting project for Voith,” said Stanley Kocon, President & CEO, Voith Hydro North America. “By bringing this project under one roof, we benefit from streamlined processes that vastly improve its timeline, which ultimately benefits everyone involved, including BC Hydro and its thousands of customers.”
Bridge River Powerhouse II Units 7 and 8 are high-head Pelton units located on Seton Lake and feed through a 4000m tunnel from the Carpenter Lake reservoir, and its penstocks are 1325m long.
Voith has already completed the replacements of Units 5 and 6 at the powerhouse. The replacement of Units 7 and 8 will be a multi-year undertaking, and their work is expected to be complete by spring 2021.
