GE Renewable Energy is to modernize four generator units at the Long Lake hydropower plant in Washington, US, under a service contract with Avista Utilities. Upon completion of the refurbishment project, the facility will have an installed capacity exceeding 100MW.
“These units were installed in the late 1970’s and have served Avista’s customers well, providing clean, renewable hydro power,” said Mac Mikkelsen, Avista’s Manager for the Long Lake Hydropower plant. “They have a 40-year design life and are due for this kind of an upgrade. Long Lake is the largest hydroelectric facility on the Spokane River. It continues to play a vital role in facilitating the urban, industrial, and agricultural development of eastern Washington and northern Idaho.”
The main objective of the generator’s refurbishment is to maintain the overall plant equipment reliability, while also increasing the efficiency, performance and the plant’s ability to respond to the growing needs of the energy imbalance market (EIM) to better serve Avista’s customers.
The first modernized Long Lake unit is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2024 and the last one in 2029. The scope of the project includes the complete renewal and supply of the stators, poles, fans and spider/rim designs.
Image source: U.S. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Created by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
