GE Renewable Energy's Hydro Solutions is to provide full operation & maintenance (O&M) services for the 210MW Igarapava hydroelectric plant in Rio Grande, Brazil. GE was one of the project’s main suppliers during its construction and installation.
Under a new contract, GE will be responsible for O&M of all five hydroelectric generating units at the plant, each of which can provide 42MW. To execute the contracted scope, GE will operate the plant twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to the day-to-day operation, GE’s team is also responsible for defining and executing the entire plant maintenance plan, from routine activities to predictive and preventive actions, as well as unplanned maintenance.
"This new contract with the Igarapava Hydroelectric Power Plant shows the customer's confidence in our experience and knowledge in the operation and maintenance of hydroelectric plants, accumulated during more than 20 years of operation in this area in Brazil," said Pascal Radue, President & CEO of GE Renewable Energy's Hydro business. “We reaffirm our commitment to support the generation of clean, affordable and reliable energy for millions of Brazilians by helping to optimize the operations of the plants, so that they can make the most of their assets and resources to meet the demand for electricity in the country."
“The plant is over 23 years-old and our focus is on maintaining a very solid management of Igarapava. Therefore, we saw the need to have as a partner such as GE Renewable Energy, a company that could carry out the operation and maintenance with great technological capacity and expertise to mitigate risks,” added Cláudio Silva, General Manager of Igarapava Hydroelectric Power Plant. “In addition to the technical expertise, GE Renewable Energy’s team has also proved to be committed to high standard practices in governance, health, safety, and people development, which positively reflects into the day-to-day operation” he concludes.
