A new main inlet valve (MIV) weighing more than 100 tonnes has arrived at the Gordon Power Station in Tasmania, Australia, following a journey involving manufacturing and transport operations across Europe, Africa and Australia.
The A$8 million valve measures 5.8m wide and 4.8m high and is the first of three new MIVs planned for the hydropower plant. It was designed in partnership with Voith Hydro.
Hydro Tasmania Executive General Manager Jesse Clark said the delivery represented a significant milestone in the Gordon Power Station upgrade: “This is one of the most significant milestones in the Gordon Power Station upgrade and an extraordinary logistical achievement.”.
Components for the valve were manufactured, assembled and tested in Portugal, Spain and Austria. The equipment was then shipped from Belgium, around Africa and to Melbourne on the Australian mainland, before arriving at Devonport in northern Tasmania.
Hydro Tasmania worked with Tasmanian company Gradco to transport the valve to Strathgordon in the state’s south-west. The load was carried on a large truck supported by additional prime movers and occupied two lanes of the Midlands Highway during parts of the journey.
“Moving equipment of this size through Tasmania is not something that happens every day,” Clark said. “The route, bridges, roads and transport equipment all required careful assessment and preparation to ensure the valve could be moved safely to one of the state’s most remote power stations.”
After reaching Strathgordon, the valve was transferred to a specialised remote-controlled trailer for the final stage of its journey through Gordon Power Station’s 1km-long access tunnel. Hydro Tasmania carried out modifications inside the tunnel ahead of the delivery, including removing lights and cutting back sections of rock to provide sufficient clearance for the oversized load.
“Even after travelling around the world, the most delicate part of the journey was the final kilometre,” Clark said. “There were sections of the tunnel where there were just centimetres of clearance either side. It really gives you a sense of the scale of this equipment and the precision required to install it.”
The MIV is scheduled to be installed in 2027, with the remaining two valves expected to arrive over the next 24 months.
Hydro Tasmania said the delivery is an important part of the wider Gordon Power Station upgrade and will support the long-term operation of the facility.
“Seeing the valve arrive safely at Gordon after so many years of planning was a proud moment for everyone involved,” said Clark.”Gordon Power Station generates around 13 percent of Tasmania’s total electricity needs every year and this is an important step in ensuring it continues to generate reliable renewable energy for decades to come.”
Frequently asked questions
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What is a main inlet valve?
MIVs are critical safety components that control the flow of water from Lake Gordon to the power station's turbines. Each turbine has its own MIV which acts like a giant kitchen tap, serving as the primary barrier between the power station and the immense force of water driving electricity generation. This is the first of three original valves to be replaced at Gordon since the power station was commissioned in the early 1970s, with engineers drawing on original 1971 designs to develop the replacement.
