GE Hydro Solutions has signed a service contract with Hydro Exploitation on behalf of the owner Electra-Massa to refurbish two 120 MVA vertical synchronous generators at the 340MW Bitsch hydro plant station in Wallis, Switzerland.
The main objectives of the generators’ refurbishment are to extend the lifetime of the plant for several decades and increase the performance and reliability of the power station.
Electra-Massa aims to maintain the plant fully operational until and after the concession expires in 2048.
Bitsch will be equipped with two new generators tailored to meet the customer’s specific operational needs.
They will replace the previous equipment which reached the end of its life.
GE Hydro Solutions will be responsible for the design studies, the engineering, the manufacturing and the delivery of the two generators.
Once the generators are delivered, GE Hydro Solutions will be in charge of the erection and the commissioning of the new equipment.
The first modernised Bitsch unit is expected to be commissioned in August 2024, and the last one is expected to come online in 2025.
GE Hydro Solutions president and chief executive Pascal Radue said: “We are delighted to support Electra-Massa in their efforts to produce sustainable electricity with a higher level of reliability to meet local demand.
“We appreciate their confidence and will work to ensure that the customised design of the future generators will help improve the performance of the power station.
“Most importantly, Electra-Massa will be able to produce sustainable electricity with a higher flexibility to meet the local demand.
“We are proud to be part of this project which confirms the critical role of hydropower in the Switzerland’s energy production.”