Work crews have completed a key stage in the refurbishment of Unit 6 at the 243MW Otto Holden Generating Station in eastern Ontario, Canada.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) confirmed that the unit’s new rotor was lifted and installed on February 5. The rotor is a critical component that converts mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.
According to OPG, the lift was completed with safety as the priority and achieved a precise fit. The company described the work as reflecting the skill and coordination of the on-site team.
Otto Holden Generating Station, located on the Ottawa River, has been in service for more than 70 years, supplying hydroelectric power to the province. All eight units at the station are scheduled for refurbishment over a 12-year period. The investment is intended to maintain the plant’s 243MW of capacity, enough to supply the equivalent of more than 240,000 homes.
Unit 6, rated at 33MW, has been offline for nine months for the overhaul and is now undergoing re-assembly. It is scheduled to return to service in the spring.
The project forms part of OPG’s broader hydro refurbishment program in eastern Ontario. The utility plans to renew eight stations in the Ottawa Valley through a C$1bn investment over the next 20 years. The program is expected to secure 1617MW of generating capacity and support more than 500 skilled jobs in the region.
