Alstom modernising Pont Baldy hydro power station in France and optimising operations

Today, Alstom and Energie Développement Services du Briançonnais (EDSB) are celebrating the modernisation of the Pont Baldy power station in Briançon (France), which will help EDSB optimise the performance of its hydro power generators. Alstoms work consisted in replacing the existing automatic voltage regulator with a new, fully digital control system intended to improve availability at the hydro power plant.

Known as SMARTGEN, the new equipment is a simple and efficient tool that can produce electricity at constant voltage, given that voltage fluctuations can cause power outages. This automatic voltage regulator therefore acts as one of the critical components in any hydro power station, ensuring that it can remain operational and free of any downtime.

Commissioned in 1966, Pont Baldy is located south-east of Briançon, Hautes-Alpes, has an output of 5MW and produces 18 million kWh per annum, supplying the needs of about 3,000 households in Briançon and its surroundings. It was built in order to quickly meet fluctuations in the local demand for power, and can also supply the network even in periods of high demand.

The power and functionality of the device are perfectly suited to the specific requirements of owners of small hydro power stations of Pont Baldys size, like EDSB. When paired with maintenance diagnostic software, it can help operators to independently intervene and retain control of equipment maintenance. 

It only took Alstom 3 days to replace the existing voltage regulator with the new SMARTGEN. The plant also features a 5MW horizontal Francis turbine, which was supplied by Alstom in the early days, to which a cutting-edge speed regulator was added in 2006. This represents a first step in the modernisation of Pont Baldy, initiated by Alstom together with its customer EDSB.
 
About 85% of Frances hydro units are of small or medium output (up to 30MW per machine), for which Alstom has developed a whole array of turnkey solutions intended for standardised facilities.

EDSB has always been one of the most innovative local electric distribution companies, said Maryse François-Xausa, Alstoms Vice President Global R&D and Product Management. "Accordingly, SMARTGEN is the very latest instance of our ongoing collaboration towards innovation, and of our determination to maximise the energy produced from available hydraulic resources.

About EDSB
EDSB is a local electric distribution company responsible for operating the power supply public service for the towns of BRIANÇON and SAINT MARTIN DE QUEYRIÈRES. Within the world of electric power, it stands as an integrated company, involved in every link in the chain: producing hydro power from the Pont Baldy dam as well as from the Roche Percée and Le Randon micro-plants, distributing electricity to Briançon and Saint Martin de Queyrières residents, and supplying electricity to its customers. EDSB serves a little over 11,000 customers, who bought 90 million kWh in 2011.