Hydro Tasmania has announced that work has begun on a three-year $60M modernisation of the Tungatinah power station, involving the replacement of the turbine and control system on three of the plant’s five generators, together with the refurbishment of many other components.
In a statement the utility said site works are underway to upgrade the first of three generators at the 125MW station. The work is the culmination of over three years of planning and procurement with the generator expected back in service at the end of June next year.
Manager Project Delivery, Andrew Hickman, said the project was an important element of the ongoing investment in Hydro Tasmania’s portfolio of generating assets.
“This investment will deliver a reset basically to new condition as well as increased output of the three generators at Tungatinah and follows on from similar investment in the power stations at Trevallyn, Gordon and Poatina,” he said. “Major works such as this are valuable opportunities to train and develop our personnel and increase their depth of understanding of hydro plant which provides great benefits in the ongoing maintenance and operation.”
Major equipment for the project has been designed and manufactured in France by alstom Hydro with the local implementation of the works supported by Alstom’s operation based at Moonah.
The Tungatinah power station, comprising five 25MW generators, was constructed during the early 1950s. It lies on the Nive River and is located just off the Lyell Highway. The station generates in the order of 500GWhr per annum or around 6% of Hydro Tasmania’s generation.