BC Hydro has awarded a contract to Voith Hydro to provide turbines and generators for the Site C Clean Energy Project.
The contract has a value of approximately $470 million and includes the design, supply and installation of six vertical axis, Francis-style turbines, six generators and associated equipment.
With nearly 150 workers slated to be on-site during the peak of installation in 2022, the contract is expected to create approximately 400 person-years of employment resulting in job opportunities for millwrights, electricians, pipefitters, boilermakers, and other trades.
The performance of a turbine-generator is critical to the success of a hydroelectric project. These turbines and generators are custom designed to suit the site-specific conditions of each hydroelectric facility. This made identifying the highest value design essential to BC Hydro’s efforts.
A rigorous evaluation process concluded that Voith has a strong delivery record for projects of a similar size and nature and best met BC Hydro’s requirements for the Site C turbines and generators contract. Voith has provided equipment for a number of BC Hydro projects, including: Revelstoke Unit 5 Project, Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade, and the Gordon M. Shrum Turbine Replacement Project.
Voith Hydro, through the Construction Labour Relations Association, has negotiated a labour agreement with the Bargaining Council of British Columbia Building Trades Unions, which represents construction craft unions in B.C. The labour agreement includes participation from 10 BC Building Trades Unions for the installation of the turbines and generators for Site C.
BC Hydro issued a Request for Qualifications in July 2012 and shortlisted three proponent teams to provide proposals for the contract. The Request for Proposals was issued in February 2013 and BC Hydro received proposals from all three teams in July 2015. The turbines and generators contract is included within the $8.335 billion cost estimate for Site C.