SPIC Brasil and GE Vernova have completed the modernisation of the third of six generating units at the 1.71GW São Simão hydropower plant in Brazil.
Generating unit three (UG3) returned following a 10.3-month refurbishment programme, reducing the outage period compared with the two previous units. The work was also completed within the 12-month regulatory limit established by Brazil’s National System Operator (ONS) and electricity regulator Aneel.
São Simão is located on the border between the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais and supplies enough electricity to serve approximately six million homes. Its six existing units are being upgraded under a ten-year modernisation programme involving investment of more than R$1.2 billion.
The programme is being undertaken by a consortium led by GE Vernova, with PowerChina responsible for supplying hydromechanical equipment, the supervision, diagnostics and control system, and electrical and mechanical balance-of-plant systems.
GE Vernova is managing the engineering, integration, installation and commissioning of the plant’s principal systems, including its turbines, generators and auxiliary equipment.
Preparations are now underway for the shutdown of UG1, which will be the fourth unit to enter the modernisation programme.
The refurbishment of UG3 involved dismantling work lasting approximately three months. Components weighing up to 410 tonnes were handled during the work, which also included the operation of a 12m-high rail-mounted gate.
“The lessons learned during the modernizations of previous generating units have allowed us to put continuous improvement into practice, which is one of our company’s core principles,” said Adriana Waltrick, CEO of SPIC Brasil. “Furthermore, we are capturing synergies with the plant expansion project, the future UG7. Everything is very well connected. Even with distinct teams dedicated to each project, we operate with similar processes, share resources, and maintain a high level of collaboration to help ensure the excellence and safety of both projects.”
The programme is intended to improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of São Simão and extend its operating life by a further 30 years. It comprises seven major work packages, including the replacement of transformers, refurbishment of overhead cranes and conversion of the plant’s analogue control architecture to fully digital systems.
Cláudio Trejger, CEO of Hydro Power at GE Vernova in Latin America, said completing the latest stage within the regulatory timeframe demonstrated the benefits of applying experience gained from the earlier units.
“This successful collaboration with SPIC Brasil and our consortium partner, applying lessons learned and utilizing GE Vernova’s experience in modernization projects, demonstrates how the efficient refurbishment of existing plants is, today, one of the smartest and most competitive ways to help support national energy security and update the infrastructure of the electricity sector,” he said.
Modernisation of all six existing generating units is scheduled to be completed in 2029.
Image credit: SPIC
