Alstom to build 100 million hydropower plant in Chile
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Alstom will provide two 136 MW Francis turbine-generator sets, one 46 MW ecological discharge* Francis turbine and related equipment.
Alstom Hydro, the worlds leading supplier of hydropower equipment and services, has been awarded a 100 million contract for a new hydropower facility to be built in Angostura, Chile. Alstom Hydro will provide two 136 MW Francis turbine-generator sets, one 46 MW ecological discharge* Francis turbine and related equipment (balance of plant, transformers and substation). The contract with Colbun, the second largest utility in Chile, covers the equipments design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, testing, commissioning and erection of the plants units and substation.
Angostura is the largest hydropower plant to be built in Chile since 2004 with a planned generation capacity of 320 MW, enough to power around 300.000 households. Philippe Joubert, Alstom Power President, said: Angostura will help respond to Chiles sustained growth by supplying additional clean and renewable energy as well as contributing to its energy security.
Chile imports 96 percent of its fossil fuel supplies. The countrys energy demand has grown at an average of 7% annually 1992-2008, according to the Global Energy Network Institute (GENI). The institute attributes the growth to the increase in demand from the mining sector and to the growth of urban areas.
Alstom leads the hydropower market in Chile with 33% market share. The company has installed turbines generating more than 1,340 MW and generators producing 2,440 MW, including 356 MW in partnership with Colbun for the Rucue hydropower plant, commissioned in 1998. Alstom also supplied two 345 MW Francis turbine-generator sets for the 690 MW Ralco power plant commissioned in 2004, Chiles largest hydropower plant. In 2005, Alstom was awarded a contract to supply a 30 MW Francis turbine for the Palmucho run-of-river power plant along the Biobio river, downstream from Ralco, commissioned in 2008.
* Ecological discharge turbines are used to ensure that rivers feeding the hydro scheme always have the minimum waterflow required for the ecosystem.
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