Alstom awarded three major Canadian hydro projects

Alstom has been awarded three contracts at hydroelectric power sites operated by Canadian utilities Hydro-Québec and Manitoba Hydro, totalling approximately 40 million. For the first two projects, the company will supply new runners for units C-1 and C-3 at the Beauharnois Generating Station. The third project is for the Pointe du Bois Spillway Replacement Project. These three (3) contracts were booked during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Alstoms North American Hydro headquarters and manufacturing facility in Sorel-Tracy, QC, will design, produce and deliver one new 47 MW Francis turbine runner for unit C-1 of Hydro-QuébecsBeauharnois Generating Station. Hydro-Québec has also exercised the option for five additionalupgraded propeller runners including part refurbishment for unit C-3, which falls within the framework of an original contract the Quebec utility awarded Alstom in 2010. The individual retrofit projects will increase electricity output by replacing old runners with new, more efficient designs that produce more electricity. The scheduled delivery date for unit C-1 is November 2013 and the first runner for unit C-3 under the option taken up by Hydro-Québec is expected to be delivered in 2014.

The historic Beauharnois Generating Station, located in Melocheville, QC, approximately 40 kmsouthwest of Montreal, QC, harnesses power from the St. Lawrence River. The station has been inoperation since 1932 and is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world with38 generating units stretching for nearly a kilometre, with an installed capacity of over 1,900 MW. 

Alstom Penstocks and Gates Security programme

The Pointe du Bois Spillway Replacement Project for Manitoba Hydro is located next to the Pointe du Bois generating station on the Winnipeg River. Under the terms of this contract, Alstom is responsible for the design and supply of new gates and hoists for the new spillway facilities. Commissioning of the primary and secondary spillway is scheduled for November 2014 and April 2016, respectively.

As part of the companys complete range of services for hydropower plant equipment, Alstoms Penstocks and Gates Security programme will ensure that the hydromechanical assets comply with all mechanical and electrical technical requirements. Customers increasingly seek solutions to ensure the full availability of hydromechanical assets, and secure and extend plant lifetime. By providing key components such as gates, Alstom helps customers meet their specific operating and safety objectives. 

These new investments will ensure that hydro continues providing the country with clean, costeffective, and reliable electricity for years to come. Alstom has a long history with Hydro-Québec andManitoba Hydro and, thanks to our close working partnerships, a very strong understanding of theiroperational requirements, said Claude Lambert, Vice President and Managing Director of Alstoms North American Hydro business.

Alstom is one of Canada's leading hydropower equipment and service providers and has installed or retrofitted approximately 50% of the installed hydropower capacity in the province of Quebec. Other  recent hydropower projects carried out by Alstom in the country include the supply of new runners and components for Centrale Robert-Bourassa (4 x 333 MW), as well as new turbine generator units for the La Romaine 2 and Lower Mattagami hydropower projects (2 x 320 MW and 3 units for a total of 267 MW, respectively).

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