Under the contracts, worth more than €9m, Alstom will modernize the Lontsch power plant and the Nendaz power plant located in the Canton Glarus and the Canton Valais respectively.
The framework of the first contract with Axpo Power requires Alstom to upgrade the exciters and discharges of two 37.5MW units at the Lontsch facility, which has an average annual power generation capacity of 120 million kWh.
The deal also requires Alstom to convert the excitation system for brushless regulators, replace voltage transformers and circuit breakers with enclosed switchgears and install insulated shockproof busbars for the discharges.
The work is expected to be completed respectively during summer 2015 and 2016.
Under the second contract with Grande Dixence and Hydro Exploitation, Alstom will replace four rotors and poles on the Sécheron machines at the Nendaz facility.
Alstom said replacing rotors on existing equipment is a technically demanding task as there are significant restrictions on the interfaces with shafts, bearings and the stator.
Commenting on the contracts, Alstom head of sales and project management service for Switzerland and Germany Christoph Ortmanns said, "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."
Image: Alstom will upgrade the exciters and discharges of two 37.5MW units at the Löntsch power plant. Photo: Courtesy of Alstom.
