Alstom Hydro strengthens its position in the refurbishment market with two new contracts in Venezuela and Sri Lanka

The worlds third-largest hydro power plant in Venezuela rejuvenated 

Alstom Hydro* has signed a 31 million euro contract with Venezuelan public utility EDELCA to rehabilitate five generators at the Simón Bolívar Guri hydroelectric power plant, located on the Caroni river in the South-East of Venezuela. This is the fourth consecutive contract awarded by EDELCA to Alstom and is part of a complete modernization programme to extend the plants life by thirty years.

This new contract involves the refurbishment of five 630 MW generators with a total capacity of 3150 MW at the powerhouse number 2, including the rehabilitation of stators, rotors and supply of auxiliaries.

The construction of Simón Bolívar - Guri power plant began in 1963 with the last of a total of twenty turbines being installed in 1986. Its total capacity of 8850 MW makes it the third-largest hydro power plant in the world in terms of installed capacity. The modernization programme that is currently being carried out by EDELCA aims to progressively increase the plants availability to almost 90% by 2012. This will help to supply the energy needed to meet growing demand, Venezuela is indeed expected to install an extra 1000 MW per year over the next decade.

Hydropower plays an important role in Venezuela, accounting for 63% out of a total installed capacity of 24 GW. Alstom Hydro is an active player in the Venezuelan market and has numerous project references with EDELCA, including multiple refurbishments to the Simón Bolívar Guri power plant in 2005 and 2006. Alstom was also awarded several contracts by the countrys second-largest utility CADAFE, which included the refurbishment of C.H San Agatón and C.H. General José Antonio Paez in 2006, and the construction of a new power plant, La Vueltosa, in 2003.

We are very proud of our long-term partnership with EDELCA. This new refurbishment contract proves once again Alstom Hydros investment all along a plants lifecycle and is a clear sign of customer satisfaction, said Philippe Cochet, President of Alstom Hydro. Alstoms goal is to get more CO2 free energy out of each drop of water, and the modernization of the Simón Bolívar - Guri power plant that EDELCA is undertaking will do just that.  

More power for Laxapanas plant in Sri Lanka 

Alstom Hydro has also signed a turnkey contract worth 43 million euros with Ceylon Electricity Board for the partial rehabilitation of the Laxapana hydro power complex, composed of five power plants, in Sri Lanka. The project will play a positive role in regulating the countrys electricity supply as well as meeting surging power demand in Sri Lanka.

Under the terms and conditions of the contract, Alstom will rehabilitate two of the complexs five power plants, Wimalasurendra and New Laxapana. Commissioning of upgraded equipment is scheduled for spring 2013.

Wimalasurendras two 26 MW Francis turbines and New Laxapanas two 52 MW Pelton turbines will be equipped with new governing systems, control systems and regulation and brushless excitors. The Pelton turbines will be equipped with new hooped runners and their power output increased to 57 MW.

The operations will be carried out during very short outage periods. Any delays would affect national grid reliability, particularly at the New Laxapana power station, which plays a key role in frequency regulation and power supply during peak demand periods, particularly in the monsoon season.

Alstom supplied equipment for the original construction of these plants in 1965 and 1972 and this latest contract follows a partial generator refurbishment in 2003. The refurbishment of the Francis and Pelton turbines and the increased output of the runners demonstrate Alstoms capability to provide a total range of hydro turbines as well as the capacity to offer improved product performances, such as the hooped Pelton, said Philippe Cochet.

Alstom has installed 60% of the countrys existing hydropower plants and 80% of its state-owned thermal plants. Sri Lanka has an installed power capacity of approximately 2400 MW, half of which is made up by hydro power. The Sri Lankan government is promoting the further development of hydro power to meet surging demand and as a way of regulating the electricity grid.

* Alstom Hydro, a joint venture between Alstom and Bouygues, has over 400 GW of turbines and generators installed worldwide which represent more than 25% of the total global hydropower installed capacity. As the world leader in the supply of hydropower equipment & services, Alstom Hydro offers products and turnkey solutions that cover all hydropower schemes, from large to small, from run-of-river to pumped-storage. With more than 6000 employees in 19 countries Alstom Hydro offers the broadest range of products and services for new installations, refurbishment, upgrading and services. 

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