Alstom has won a contract valued at over €10 million from Länsi-Suomen Voima Oy to retrofit and upgrade two existing generators and provide one new generator for the 72MW Harjavalta hydropower plant.

The works are to be executed between 2016 and 2017 and are part of a larger modernisation project which aims to increase the power plant output to 110MW.

Under the terms of the deal, Alstom will refurbish and upgrade two generators, which were originally manufactured in 1939 and 1940. It will supply new complete stator, excitation system and cooling system plus refurbishment of the existing rotor, generator shaft and new or refurbishment of bearings. After the refurbishment the generators will be upgraded to a modern design with increased output of the generators from 2×46 MVA to 2×53 MVA. In addition Alstom will supply a new 25 MVA generator to be manufactured at its site in Bilbao, Spain.

"With this project we will significally increase the output of Harjavalta power plant thus allowing Länsi-Suomen Voima Oy to provide a reliable and renewable power to Southern Finland," said Markus Alholm, the president for Alstom in Finland. "This order endorses our strategy to support customers with a full services and retrofit offering to secure operational reliability and to optimize their asset management throughout the plant’s lifespan."

Located in Western Finland on the Kokemäenjoki river, the Harjavalta hydropower plant was built in 1939, and is one of the most efficient power plant in Southern Finland. The drop height of the power plant is 26.4m.

Carrieann Stocks


Image: Harjavalta power plant, courtesy of Alstom